Plainview confirms Bobby Shaw as municipal court judge; judge sworn to two-year term

The Plainview City Council confirmed Bobby Shaw as municipal court judge on July 22, and the council administered the oath of office at the meeting.

Assistant City Manager Jeff Johnston described the role and powers of the municipal judge under the city’s Home Rule Charter and state law: the judge presides over the municipal court, adjudicates Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations, conducts arraignments and magistrate duties for in-custody individuals, reviews probable cause statements, and issues warrants and subpoenas as authorized by law. Johnston told the council the municipal judge is appointed to a two-year term under the Home Rule Charter and must meet Texas judicial education requirements.

Johnston introduced Bobby Shaw as the recommended candidate, saying, "Miss Shaw comes to us with over 11 years of legal experience." He described Shaw’s background as including an associate degree in paralegal studies from South Plains College and prior work with law firms (including Laney Bollinger), Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (Child Protective Services) and currently with Legal Aid. The council then moved to confirm her appointment. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss moved the confirmation and Council Member Dickerson seconded; the council voted and the meeting record described the confirmation as unanimous. Johnston administered the oath at the meeting.

Johnston said the municipal judge position is part time (approximately 15–18 hours per week, not to exceed 1,001 hours per year) and that the two-year term presented will run from July 2025 to July 2027. The confirmation was recorded in the meeting and the oath was administered on the record.