The Fort Worth Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met on May 5, 2026. The committee approved the minutes from the April 7 meeting, unanimously appointed two substitute municipal judges, and received a detailed federal legislative update on appropriations and a new campaign to address at-grade railroad crossings.
No, I know this. At some point, you guys got it. Yeah, at some point. So I'm gonna call the uh meeting of the legislative intergovernment affairs committee to order. Uh first item of business is approval of the April seventh, twenty twenty-six minutes. All those in favor? Any opposed? Great. Uh action items, consideration of recommendation of appointment of two new substitute judges and related salary. Chief Gonzalez, I think you're stepping up. Thank you. Microphone. Councilmember Crane, committee members, and staff. I'm here today requesting to fill two vacant part-time substitute judge positions. Um judges are appointed for a two-year term, and the current term expires March third first of twenty twenty-seven. We have eight subs eight substitute part-time judge positions, six are filled with two vacancies. They're appointed for a two-year term, and I and not an odd number of years, and they're limited to work nineteen hours per week. They're compensated only for the number of hours worked, and there are no benefits. Actually, the appointment of a substitute judge to a full-time judge position, and the second vacancy was due to a resignation of a substitute judge. The first vacancy was due to the to appointing substitute judge Karen Boyd Williams to fill the full-time judge position commencing April first, twenty twenty-six, and the second vacancy was due to the uh resignation of substitute substitute judge Leslie Lynch effective March thirty-first of twenty twenty-six, which created an immediate need to fill the vacancies promptly. However, at the conclusion of the interview process, the committee selected Dina Dina Stallings to fill the vacant substitute judge position. The second vacancy was due to uh the uh resignation of substitute judge Leslie Lynch. So we posted the position for a two-week period, first we posted it externally from March twelfth through March twenty-sixth. We received three applications. Two were interviewed uh on Thursday, April 1st, and the panel selected Raymond Daniel to fill the substitute judge position. The interview committee consisted of Deputy Chief Radshaw, two municipal court judges, and the clerk of the court, assistant director. Dana Dinah Stallings is a graduate of Baylor University School of Law, licensed in Texas since 1996. She's a solo practitioner with a background in criminal and family law, as well as contract. Raymond Daniel is a graduate of South Texas College of Law, licensed in Texas in 1991, also a solo practitioner in the areas of Will's trust and probate family and criminal background. My recommendation is to approve the appointment of Diana Stallings and Raymond Daniel as substitute judges for the remainder of a two-year term, commencing May 16th, 2026 through March 31st of 2027. And I also recommend to establish the same rate of pay as all the other part-time judges or substitute judges at a rate of $64 per hour. The next steps consists of an M and C to the mayor and city council for consideration on May 12th, 2026. Any questions? Any questions? No. Can we take both of these recommendations together? Right. Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve the recommendation to appoint uh Dean Dina? Dinah. Dinah Stallings and Raymond Daniel as substitute judges for the all those in favor? Any of the closed? Great. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it, Judge. Thank you very much. All right. Next up we have the federal legislative update, and I see Casey Pipes in the house. Step on up.