Arlington Presiding Municipal Court Judge Stewart Milner was recently awarded the 2023 Outstanding Jurist for 2023 by the Texas Municipal Courts Association for his distinguished service, passion and dedication to the judicial profession. 

Judge Milner was honored with this award at the 2023 TMCA Annual Conference on June 22, 2023 in Fredericksburg, Texas. The award recognizes a municipal court judge who has made an outstanding contribution to the fair and impartial administration of justice. Recipients are nominated for the awards by peers for their excellence in carrying out municipal court procedures and their record of outstanding leadership in the community and profession.  Judge Milner received six separate nomination letters from judges in Arlington and Fort Worth, and Jake Medrano, Arlington Court Administrator.  

Judge Milner began his career in Arlington in 1992 as a prosecutor. He served as Chief Prosecutor and was named Chief Judge in 1997. Throughout his 30-year career, Judge Milner has worked diligently to administer justice, mentor and educate other municipal court personnel and ensure fairness for everyone. He is known for his professional and courteous demeanor and consistently treats everyone with dignity and respect. He consistently exhibits leadership, excellence, and integrity. His accomplishments include: 

• Serving as a member of the Legislative Committee for the Texas Municipal Courts Association for several legislative sessions.  He has been required to testify before the legislature on many occasions to support and oppose bills with an impact on municipal courts or an individuals’ access to justice for Class C misdemeanor offenses.
• Educating judges, prosecutors, and other Court personnel through the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center for more than 30 years. He has taught at the National Judicial College and teaches new recruits at the Arlington Police Academy.  
• After the release of the Judicial Commission’s report from Ferguson, Missouri, Judge Milner developed and taught a course to educate judges and court personnel on due process and the proper application of laws governing Class C misdemeanor offenses. Long before it was required by law, he instituted payment plans or community service options for defendants unable to pay the fines and costs owed immediately.  He also instituted capias pro fine show cause dockets and established Arlington as a safe harbor court to try and resolve outstanding fines and costs without jail time.  
• Beginning in 2018, he and other court personnel partnered with the City of Fort Worth to hold community courts for persons who wanted to resolve outstanding warrants from both cities without having to appear at the courthouse.  Community courts are now being held in city neighborhoods with the highest number of outstanding citations and warrants. Judge Milner, Judge Danielle Dulaney and other court personnel are working to establish a permanent community court facility in Arlington.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award from the Texas Muncipal Courts Association.,” Judge Milner said. “The award is a reflection of the fine court team that makes up the court and the people that support it.”