Sec. 30.00140. APPELLATE COURT JUDGE. (a) The appellate judge shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city for a term of two years, unless the city by charter amendment provides for a four-year term as provided by Article XI, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution. The appellate judge must be a citizen of the United States and of this state and must have been a practicing attorney of this state for at least five years immediately preceding his election or appointment.

(b) A vacancy in the appellate court shall be filled by appointment by the governing body of the city. The appointee serves until the next regular municipal election, and at that election the vacancy for the unexpired or full term shall be filled by election by the qualified voters of the city.

(c) The appellate judge shall take the oath of office required for a municipal judge.

(d) An appointed or elected appellate judge may not be removed from office except in the same manner and for the same causes as provided by law for county judges and as provided by Article V, Section 1-a, of the Texas Constitution.

(e) The appellate judge is entitled to compensation from the city as set by the governing body of the city. The judge's compensation may not be diminished but may be increased during his term of office.

(f) The city shall provide the appellate court with necessary clerical help. The appellate judge and the city may agree that the judge will provide for his own clerical help, and in that event the judge is entitled to additional reasonable compensation by agreement with the city.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Government Code, Sec. 30.050 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 8.06, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.