Municipal Judges:

Valerie Garcia
Travis Bence

The Municipal Court provides a forum for the City of Harlingen and its citizens for consideration of matters within the court's jurisdiction.  It accepts complaints of class "C" misdemeanors, bears and enters appropriate pleas, sets cases for trial and tries cases, prepares appeals, sends appeals to the County Court at Law, conducts post-arrest hearings for defendants charged with serious offenses, sets bonds, issues arrest and search warrants, conducts driver license suspension hearings, accepts fines, maintains the Court's Docket, and reports convictions to the Department of Public Safety.   The City retains one full-time presiding judge and one part-time associate judge, who preside over the Municipal Court.

Municipal Court
1018 Fair Park Boulevard
P.O. Box 2207
Harlingen, Texas  78550

Contact: Court Clerk, (956) 216-5121
Court Administrator: Cindy Weaver, (956) 216-5127
Office Hours: Monday & Thursday, 8 am - 6:30 &
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
Fax:(956) 427-8787

Click to read and print:
Municipal Court Fines

Valerie M. Garcia, Municipal Court Judge (Presiding Full-Time)

Office Phone #: (956) 216-5122

Education:
1995     Bachelor of Science, Western Illinois University
2003     Juris Doctor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Organizations/Offices Held
Organization                              Office   
Type (Service, Social, Other)    Held                          Current

Girl Scouts, Service & Social    Asst. Troop Leader    2006-Current

Other Training/Education:
Admitted: State Bar of Texas
Admitted: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Certified Training: Texas Municipal Court Education Center

Historical Information:
2005-2006 Cameron County District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney
2003-2005 Medrano's Law Office,  Associate Attorney
2002 Federal Public Defender's Office-Intern

Organization/Offices held:
Member: Cameron County Bar Association 2003-Present
Member: Texas Young Lawyer Association 2003-2007
Member: American Bar Association 2003-2005

Travis Bence, Associate Municipal Judge - (Part-time)

Office Phone #: (956) 216-5122

Education
1996 - BBA International Business , St. Mary's University
2000 - Doctor of Jurisprudence, South Texas College of Law

Other Training/Education
State Bar of Texas
2001 United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
Texas Real Estate Sales license 2001
Mediator 2000

Historical Information
2001-Present      Private Law Practice, Attorney
2005-2007         Cameron County District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney

Organizations/Offices Held
Organization                             Type (Service,Social,Other)   Current
Harlingen Board of Realtors                  Other                         Current
Harlingen Area Builders Association        Other                        Current 
Harlingen Chamber of Commerce          Other                         Current 

Richard L. Bilbie, Assistant City Attorney

Office Phone #: (956) 216-5017

E-Mail Address: rbilbie@myharlingen.us

Education:
1978 Doctor of Jurisprudence, St. Mary's University - San Antonio
1973 Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas-Austin

Other Training/Education:
1969 Bachelor of Arts in History; Southwestern University,
Georgetown, Texas

Historical Information:
2005-2007 Cameron County District Attorney's Office
Assistant & District Attorney
1992-2005 Private Law Practice
1989-1992 Cameron County District Attorney's Office
Assistant District Attorney
1984-1989 Private Law Practice

Cynthia Weaver, Court Administrator

Office Phone # (956) 216-5122

Training:
19 Years experience with City Court Level I Certified Clerk

Historical Information:
1986 Municipal Court, Court Clerk
1990 Harlingen Police Department, Dispatch
Telecommunications Office
1991 Records Department, Supervisor
1995 Municipal Court, Court Clerk
1997 Finance Department, Payroll Clerk
1999 Municipal Court, Court Administrative