Municipal Court

The Merkel Municipal Court is located at 100 Kent St., Merkel, Texas. Normal business hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.  When making a personal appearance you must currently enter the City Hall building thru the Water Dept. entrance, from there you will be directed to the Court. 

Make a Plea:

After being issued a traffic citation, you must enter a plea by the 10 day promise to appear date. Please allow 2 working days for personnel to process you citation before making an appearance.  You will need to make a plea to each charge, and you have three options:  (1) Plea of Nolo Contendere (No Contest); (2) Plea of Guilty; or a (3) Plea of Not Guilty.  With a Plea of No Contest or Guilty, you MAY then have the option of requesting a Driver’s Safety Course or requesting Deferred Disposition, you will need to contact the Court.  You will NOT be eligible for either option if:

• You were 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit
• If you were issued a citation for No Insurance, Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
• If you were Passing a School Bus, or issued a citation for a Construction Zone violation.
• If you have a Commercial Driver’s License.

 

When you make your request for either the Driver’s Safety Course, you must

pay the DSC fees of $107.10, provide proof of your Driver’s License, proof of Financial Responsibility, and sign an affidavit stating that you are not in the process of taking a DSC or that you have not had a DSC in the last 12 months.

For Deferred Disposition, you must pay the fine amount in full, and provide a current copy of your Driver’s License and Proof of Financial Responsibility.

If you choose to make a plea of Not Guilty, you will be set for a pre-trial hearing and notice will be mailed to you by certified mail.

Currently serving as Merkel Municipal Court Judge is Donna Eyrse.  Judge Eyrse has been serving in the Court since December, 2000.  She has been employed by the City of Merkel since June 1, 1998 and has had the opportunity to serve in several capacities.  She was coordinator for the Senior Citizen program; she served as Librarian for approximately one year, and was police clerk before accepting the position of Judge.

Judge Eyrse has lived in the Merkel area all of her life and has raised her family here.    Eyrse currently is a volunteer with the Merkel EMS and serves on the Library Board for the Merkel Public Library. 

Municipal Judge Donna Eyrse  Em: court@merkeltexas.com