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1. When is Town Hall open?

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m, except for Town Holidays and weather emergencies. The following are official Holidays for the Town:

• New Year's day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. day
• Presidents' day
• Good Friday
• Memorial day
• Independence day
• Labor day
• Columbus day
• Veteran's day
• Thanksgiving (Thursday/Friday)
• Christmas Eve and Christmas day

2. Where is Town Hall located?

Town Hall and the Municipal Court have moved just down the road to a new building in Northlake Commons, the new commercial development on FM 407 in front of Harvest. The new Town Hall is in Suite 300, accessed at the rear of the central building of the development at 1500 Commons Circle. 

Departments & Services

The new Town Hall houses the Administration, Finance, and Development Services departments and is also the location of the Municipal Court and Town Council meetings. The old Town Hall at 1400 FM 407 now houses the offices of the Public Works Department. The Police Department will continue to be housed in temporary facilities on the same site until they move into the next phase of the Northlake Commons adjacent to the new Town Hall.

Additional Information

Go to Directions under Contact Us for directions to Town Hall.

3. Is the Municipal Court located at Town Hall?

Yes, the Municipal Court is now located at the new Town Hall. All tickets may be paid at the Municipal Court offices in Town Hall. Court proceedings take place in the Chamber Room of Town Hall. Go to Directions under Contact Us for directions to Town Hall.

4. Who provides trash service to the Town of Northlake?

Trash service is provided for the Town of Northlake by Waste Connections. To contact Waste Connections call 817-222-2221 or visit the Waste Connections website. Trash service for the Town of Northlake is on Wednesdays.

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1. Why is jury service important?

The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to a large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve in our courts.

2. What is my duty as a juror?

As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.

3. How was I selected?

You were selected at random by the municipal clerk from public information listings.

4. Am I eligible?

Jurors must:

• Be a citizen of the United States and of this State.
• Be able to read and write.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a city resident.
• Be of sound mind.
• Reside in the county of jury service.

You cannot serve on a jury if:

• You are now on probation or deferred adjudication for a felony or for any type of theft.
• You are now under indictment for a felony or are now under criminal charges for any type of theft.
• You have been convicted of a felony or of any type of theft (unless rights have been restored).

If you are in doubt or think you may not be qualified to serve on a jury for one of the above or any other reasons, please notify the Judge.

5. Who can be excused from jury service?

You are entitled to be excused as a juror if you:

• Are a student in class
• Are the caretaker of a person who is unable to care for themselves (an invalid)
• Are over 70 years of age
• Can show a physical or mental impairment or an inability to comprehend or to communicate in English
• Have legal custody of a child under 10 years of age and jury service would leave the child unsupervised

6. What kind of case will I hear?

Municipal courts preside over criminal fine-only misdemeanor cases that arise under state or municipal ordinance.

Criminal Case

A criminal case results when a person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether the person is presumed innocent; and the state, represented in municipal court by the city attorney or deputy city attorney, must prove guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt."

7. Must my employer pay me while I am on jury duty?

Your employer is not required to pay you while on jury duty; however, employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee for serving as a juror.

8. Who can have a jury trial?

Any person charged with a criminal offense has a right to a jury trial.

9. Are there rules about jury conduct?

Yes, the Texas Supreme Court has rules to assist you in your conduct as a juror, which will be given to you by the Judge.

10. How is a juror selected for a particular case?

Juries of six will hear cases in municipal court. A larger group, called a panel, will be sent to the trial court (courtroom) where the jurors will be questioned under the supervision of the Judge. A juror may be excused from the panel if it is shown that the juror cannot act impartially concerning the case to be heard. In addition, each side is allowed to remove three jurors from the panel without having to show any reason. The trial jury will be the first six of the remaining jurors on the panel.

11. What is voir dire or questioning of the jury panel?

It is a way for the parties to select a fair and impartial jury. Under the justice system, you may be questioned by each of the parties before they decide to remove a certain number of jurors from the jury panel. The city attorney represents the state, and the defendant is represented by an attorney or represents him or herself. 

For example, a party may ask you questions to see if you are connected to the trial or if you have any prejudice or bias toward anyone in the trial. These questions are not intended to embarrass you, but rather to help the parties in the jury selection process. You may ask the Judge to allow you to answer some questions away from the other jurors.

12. What if I have a special need or emergency?

After you have been selected as a juror on a trial panel, if you have a special need or an emergency, tell the bailiff.

13. What are the order of events of a trial?

1. Opening Statements: The parties explain the case, the evidence they will present, and the issues for you to decide.
2. Presentation Of Evidence: The evidence consists of the testimony of witnesses and the exhibits allowed by the Judge. Exhibits admitted into evidence will be available to the jury for examination during deliberations. You have a right to ask for them. You will be asked to make decisions regarding disputed facts; therefore, your attention at all times is critically important. Juror note taking or the use of any notes will be determined by the Judge.
3. Rulings By The Judge: The Judge may be asked to decide questions of law during the trial. Occasionally, the Judge may ask jurors to leave the courtroom while the parties make their legal arguments. The jurors should understand that such interruptions are needed to make sure that their verdict is based upon proper evidence, as determined by the Judge under the Rules of Evidence. You may give the evidence whatever weight you consider appropriate.
4. Instructions To The Jury: At the close of all the evidence, the Judge may submit to the jury the Charge of the Court. This will include legal instructions on this particular case and the questions that the jury is to answer from the evidence admitted.
5. Closing Arguments: After the Charge of the Court, the parties have the opportunity to summarize the evidence in their closing arguments and to try to persuade the jury to accept their view of the case.
6. Deliberations and Verdict of the Jury: Following closing arguments, the jury is sent to deliberate. When the jury has answered the questions asked of them they shall return their verdict. The verdict must be based solely on the evidence presented by the parties, the Charge of the Court, and the rules of law provided by the Judge.

When In Doubt, Ask the Judge

You have the right to communicate with the Judge regarding any matters affecting your deliberations, including but not limited to:

• Any questions regarding evidence
• The Charge of the Court
• Physical comfort
• Special needs

During deliberation, if it becomes necessary to communicate with the Judge, the bailiff or the officer of the court will deliver jurors' notes to the Judge. The information in this handbook is not intended to take the place of the instructions given by the Judge in any case. In the event of a conflict, the Judge's instructions will prevail.

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1. How do I file a complaint?

A person wishing to file a general complaint or a racial profiling complaint should contact the Northlake Police Department, Chief of Police or his designee at 940-648-4804 during normal business hours. All complaints will be handled promptly. You will be interviewed regarding your complaint. The Texas Government Code Section 614.021 provides that a complaint regarding a peace officer’s conduct must be in writing and signed by the complainant, in order to be considered by the Chief of Police. A copy of the complaint will also be provided to the officer or employee, if the investigation will not be compromised and before disciplinary action is taken.

2. What happens when a complaint is substantiated?

When the investigation of a complaint reveals the charges are true and should be sustained against the police employee, the department may take one of the following actions, depending on the nature of the violation:

• Structured Counseling
• Oral Reprimand
• Written Reprimand
• Suspension
• Termination

3. What happens if the complaint is not substantiated?

If there is not sufficient evidence to support the allegation, the investigation is closed with no further action taken.

4. What happens if the investigation reveals the claim of improper conduct is false?

The Texas Penal Code 37.08 states that a person commits an offense if he/she knowingly makes a false statement that is material to a criminal investigation. This offense is a class “B” misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine. The Northlake Police Department will pursue all false reports in accordance with the law.

5. What happens if you are not satisfied with disposition of your complaint?

If you are not satisfied with the investigation or action taken relating to your complaint, you may seek additional action from:

• The Denton County District Attorney
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Personal Legal Counsel

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1. What is Project ChildSafe?

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners through the distribution of key safety education messages and free gun locking devices (firearms safety kits). The program is supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant (DOJ), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

2. What is the National Shooting Sports Foundation?

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, with over 3,000 members, is the shooting sports industry’s largest and most diverse trade association. Formed in 1961, the NSSF manages a variety of outreach programs with a special emphasis on efforts to promote firearm safety education to all gun owners.

3. What is the goal of Project ChildSafe?

Firearms accidents in the home can result from an unauthorized individual, often a child, finding a loaded and unsecured firearm in the home. The risk of firearms-related unintentional injuries or deaths can be reduced when firearms owners are aware of and fully understand their responsibility to handle firearms safely and store them in a secure manner. The goal of Project ChildSafe is to inform and educate all firearms owners on key safety issues and to provide firearms safety kits that include a gun locking device.

4. What is the difference between Project ChildSafe and Project HomeSafe?

Project HomeSafe was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to provide key firearms safety education messages to non-traditional firearms owners. Project ChildSafe, with an increased emphasis on preventing children from accessing a loaded firearm in the home, is an expansion of the Project HomeSafe program.

5. What is Project Safe Neighborhoods and why is Project ChildSafe a component of that program?

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun violence in America. The present Administration, through the U.S. Department of Justice, is providing the resources necessary for Project Safe Neighborhoods to be successful in reducing gun violence in local communities and is funding a number of programs that target gun crime. Project ChildSafe is a nationwide firearms safety education outreach program that complements these efforts to reduce gun violence by providing a prevention component that encourages safe handling and proper storage of firearms in the home.

6. What is NSSF’s role in Project ChildSafe?

NSSF was appointed by DOJ to administer Project ChildSafe because of NSSF’s experience and expertise in providing gun locks and safety education messages to firearms owners nationwide through the Project HomeSafe program. NSSF supplies safety kits, which include a gun lock and accompanying educational material on firearm safety, to its program partners and provides additional support and media outreach materials.

7. Who are Project ChildSafe partners?

Project ChildSafe establishes partnerships with governors, lieutenant governors, U.S. Attorneys, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies to allow for efficient statewide distribution of firearm safety kits in all states.

8. What kind of locks are being distributed by Project ChildSafe?

The gun locking device distributed in the Project ChildSafe program is a cable-style gun lock that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) current testing protocol standard (F2369-04). Cable locks require that many types of firearms be unloaded before the cable lock is installed, providing an extra level of safety.