When a general-law city needs a temporary municipal judge, which statement describes who may sit for the regular judge?

• A. The mayor.
• B. The county commissioners.
• C. The state governor.
• D. The governing body may appoint one or more persons meeting the qualifications for the position to sit for the regular judge.

Answer: (D)

In a general-law city, the city’s governing body is the authority that ensures the municipal court can function when the regular judge is unavailable. The governing body may appoint one or more individuals who meet the qualifications for the position to sit for the regular judge. This ensures that anyone stepping in as temporary judge has the same credentials and legitimacy as the regular judge, preserving proper judicial standards. The mayor, county commissioners, or the governor don’t have that appointment power for a municipal court in a general-law city. The key point is that the governing body, not a single official or another level of government, is responsible for appointing qualified temporary judges to sit for the regular judge.