The City of Magnolia and Magnolia Municipal Court initiated night court in November 2010 and have been seeing a positive response.

The night court is held the first and fourth Tuesday of each month. On the first Tuesday of each month juvenile court is held at 6 p.m. and adult court pretrial is held at 7 p.m. On the fourth Tuesday of each month juvenile court is still held at 6 p.m. and adult jury trials are held at 7 p.m.

Previously, the municipal court hours took place during the day, with juvenile court starting at 8 a.m. and adult pretrial at 1 p.m.

Pictured (from left to right) are alternate Judge Steven Crews, Judge Jimmy Thorton, Prosecutor Darla Faulkner and Court Clerk Donna Weber.

Magnolia Judge Jimmy Thorton said since night court was initiated the city has received “a lot of thanks” from the community, because parents and students are no longer forced to miss school and work to come to court.

During the juvenile court, one Magnolia West High School student and her mother said the option to come to night court was “really beneficial.”

They both agreed that the process was quick and easy and neither had to miss work nor school.

Thorton explained that he prefers night court, especially for juveniles, because he prefers parents are present when a juvenile must attend court. With the earlier court times, parents could not always leave work.

Parents would lose out on pay if they left work for court and unfortunately students would miss school, he explained.

On Sept. 20, Thorton saw more than 130 adult cases.

“It was standing room only,” he said.

He added that with juvenile hearings, some nights he will see almost 12 cases.

Magnolia hired a prosecutor that works with Brett Ligon at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Darla Faulkner attends the night court to handle the municipal court’s Class C Misdemeanors.

Thorton added that the new night court process has been more effective.

Those paying citations are also able to see the clerk during the hours of court to pay their fines. Thorton said the clerk’s office stays open until the last person has their trial.

Court Administrator Karla Bussey said the response in fines and warrants being taken care of has been much better with the later hours on Tuesdays. However, she noted that citations have gone up.

Thorton said Bussey and new Court Clerk Donna Weber have made the initiative to begin calling those that have warrants, reminding them to take care of them and explaining the night court hours.

The municipal court also places door hangers on the homes of those who have warrants as a reminder to handle their warrant.

The court has also seen an increase in jurors. Previously, with earlier trial hours he said only about six to nine people would show for jury summons. With the later hours, Thorton said between 16 and 20 residents are showing up for jury duty.

Overall, Thorton said the new system is seeing a better response and citizens are being more responsible with warrants.

In addition, the City of Magnolia swore in an alternate judge at its regular meeting Aug. 31. Steven Crews, an attorney and also a member of the Magnolia ISD school board will now take the bench if Thorton is unable to.

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