Texas Municipal Court Clerk Practice Exam 2026 - Free Municipal Court Clerk Practice Questions and Study Guide

In this scenario, only the judge has the authority to dismiss offenses in a court setting, including the offense of FMFR (Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility). The judicial power is distinct and cannot be exercised by staff or clerks, regardless of circumstances such as the judge being on vacation. The role of the court clerk, including someone like Chris, is typically to support administrative tasks rather than making judicial decisions. Therefore, without the judge present and available to authorize such actions, dismissing the offense would be outside the scope of what any court personnel can do.

While jurisdictional differences exist in some judicial procedures, the fundamental principle remains that the power to dismiss cases rests with the judge. Thus, the correct answer is that only the judge can dismiss the offense, underscoring the importance of judicial authority in maintaining the integrity of the court's processes.