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General Information

Court Security Court Etiquette Court/Legal Terms Parking Citation Collections Trial Schedule

Court Security

The City of Tulsa Municipal Court has full-time security personnel who are stationed at the main entrance to the court. Everyone who visits the court must pass through a metal detector and must place all personal belongings on an X-ray machine to be viewed. In addition, your personal belongings may be subject to a search.

The following is a list of items that are not allowed into the courthouse under ANY circumstances:

• Food and drink, including water. Drinking fountains are located in the courthouse lobby for your convenience.

• Weapons. This includes, but is not limited to, guns (with or without a concealed weapons permit), knives (including Swiss Army and Leatherman tools), chains, mace, and batons. The Court's definition of weapons also includes items that could be used as weapons. These include, but are not limited to, various tools, kitchen utensils, and nail files.

Please note: This list is not exhaustive and security has full discretion when deciding what may or may not be brought in to the courthouse.

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Court Etiquette

The Mission of the City of Tulsa Municipal Court is to provide superior customer service. In return, the Court expects all visitors to respect the Court and its employees. Below, are several things you should know before you visit the Court:

• It is important that visitors understand the appropriate dress code for the Court. The Court is a place of business and visitors should wear clean, fitted clothes. Shirt and shoes are required. Please take your hat off before entering any courtroom.

• All pagers and cell phones should be turned off before entering the courtroom.

• It is also important to know that food, drink, and ALL weapons are strictly prohibited from the building. Do not attempt to bring in any prohibited items. The Court will not store prohibited items in the lobby for pick-up. Leave these items at home, or in your car.

• The Court also asks that you be patient, as it can sometimes be very busy.

• NO INFANTS OR SMALL CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM.

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Court/Legal Terms

• The Judge is the central figure in the courtroom and is seated higher than everyone else. The judge allows both sides the opportunity to present their version of the facts. The Judge oversees the trial and decides legal questions that arise.

The Courtroom Bailiff and Court Clerk sit at the desk to one side of the judge and in front of the Judge. The Clerk is an officer of the court and records a summary of what happens in a case, orders made by the court during the trial, and the verdict at the end of the trial. The clerk may administer the oath or affirmation to jurors and all witnesses and marks all exhibits when they are received in evidence.

Witnesses give testimony concerning the issue being tried.

The Plaintiff (also called the Petitioner) is the person who submits a complaint to the court. In a criminal case, this would be the City of Tulsa.

The Defendant (also called the Respondent) is the person against whom the complaint is brought. The defendant is the person charged with an offense.

Lawyer, Attorney, and Counsel are names referring to the legal representative of a party in trial.

The City Attorney/Prosecutor is the prosecuting officer who represents the City in criminal and traffic cases.

The Jury is a group of individuals from the community selected to hear evidence in a court case and decide the case based on the facts.

Pro se is a term derived from the Latin in propria, meaning "for one's self", used to describe a person who handles his or her own case without a lawyer. When a non-lawyer files his or her own legal papers, he or she is expected to write "in pro se" at the bottom of the heading on the first page.

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Parking Collections

On March 9, 2007, Municipal Courts began using the Law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Simpson, LLP to assist in collecting for outstanding parking citations. Citizens will be receiving a series of letters notifying them of delinquent citations from Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Simpson, LLP. The Municipal Court will also continue to mail notifications that enable the vehicles to be towed.

If the citizen who currently owns the vehicle receives a collection letter from Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Simpson, LLP, or the City of Tulsa but did not own the vehicle when the citation was issued, the citizen should do the following:

The Deputy Court Clerk will pull all citations relating to the dates prior to the title change and send them to the City Prosecutor for a determination on the disposition of these citations. 

When the prosecutor makes a decision regarding determination of liability, the vehicle owner will be notified by mail.

If you have any further questions, you may contact the Municipal Court at 596-7761.

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Trial Scheduling Information

Please Read Carefully

1.  ALL TRIALS ARE HELD MONDAY - THURSDAY AT 2 P.M. and are scheduled according to the officer's schedule. You may hire an attorney to present your case, but it is not required.

2.  PRESET FINES ARE VOID. Once a trial date has been set, the fine amount on the ticket is void and the Cashier cannot accept payment.

3. If found guilty of the charge(s), the Judge may set the fine in an amount not exceeding the penalty provided for a particular charge. Court cost per charge may be a minimum of $30.00. In addition, the Court may assess a witness fee of $5.00 plus mileage for each witness appearing for trial, and a $10.00 fee for a court reporter, if requested. THESE COSTS ARE IN ADDITION TO ANY FINE SET BY THE JUDGE.

4.  DO NOT MISS YOUR COURT DATE. A licensed attorney is the only person who can appear on your behalf. Failure to appear on your court date will result in a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST and a bond may be required before you can be released from jail on a warrant. Missing your court date can also suspend your driver's license. If your court date is missed, you need to appear at Room 220, WARRANT OFFICE, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday - Friday, as soon as possible, to have the warrant removed.

5.  Once a citation has been set for trial, A COURT CLERK CANNOT CHANGE THE COURT DATE WITHOUT THE JUDGE'S APPROVAL. To obtain this approval, you must appear at Room 228, COURT RECORDS, between 8 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Monday - Friday, no later than five (5) days before the scheduled court date.

6.  YOU MUST BE ON TIME. Allow yourself extra time in case you are unable to find a parking place. Once you arrive at Municipal Court, please have a seat in your designated courtroom and wait for the Judge to call your name. No children are allowed in the courtroom, so please arrange for their care.

7.  IF YOU ARE LESS THAN 18 YEARS OLD, you MUST bring a parent, legal guardian, or an attorney.

Court Appearance Information

1.  DRESS APPROPRIATELY. Shorts, skorts, capri pants, and sleeveless tops (tank tops, camisoles, tube tops, and athletic cut-off shirts) are not permitted in the courtroom. All shirts must completely cover the midriff area and skirts must be of an appropriate length.

2.  SPEAK CLEARLY AND DISTINCTLY TO THE JUDGE.

3. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS.

4. MAKE SURE YOU BRING ALL WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS WHICH YOU ANTICIPATE USING AT TRIAL. You are encouraged to provide documents such as pictures, diagrams, and exhibits that will help in the presentation of your case. Witnesses for your case must appear in person. AFFIDAVITS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
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