BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES
The City of Brenham has extended the appointments of two of its current municipal court judges.
Following executive session Thursday, the Brenham City Council reappointed presiding judge John Winkelmann and associate judge Robert Wright for new two-year terms, beginning January 1st.
The council also approved a 2.5 percent pay raise for both judges effective January 1st, and another 2.5 percent raise for both effective January 1, 2022. The current annual salary of Winkelmann is $27,000, while Wright’s is $21,000.
Winkelmann, a local attorney and the former assistant county attorney for Washington County, was appointed in January by the council to fill the term of previous presiding judge Bill Kendall, who was removed from his position in October 2019.
Wright has served as an associate judge since 2008.
The term of associate judge Patricia Gruner, who serves as a backup when Winkelmann and Wright are not available, was not discussed at Thursday’s meeting. Gruner, the presiding municipal judge in Navasota, was appointed by Brenham as an associate judge in December 2019 for a term set to expire December 31st.
According to City Secretary Jeana Bellinger, if the city’s court administrator feels there is still a need to have an additional associate judge, Gruner’s term will be discussed with the council on December 17th.