Staff: Administration
The purpose of the Municipal Courts Administration Department is to function as the official court administrator and custodian to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and ordinances while striving to provide the highest level of customer service, professional efficiency and integrity. To accomplish these objectives, MCAD performs the administrative support activities required for the efficient operation of the City of Houston’s judicial branch of government. The department is responsible for all administrative functions such as processing all complaint fillings, preparing court dockets, recording and tracking court proceedings, collecting fines and fees, posting bond forfeitures, issuing subpoenas and warrants, maintaining electronic and hard copy files and financial accountability and reporting to the appropriate governmental agencies. It operates the largest municipal court system in the state of Texas, as well as one of the largest in the county.
Our Mission:
The mission of the Municipal Courts Department (MCAD) is to provide a forum for citizens to have their matters heard in a fair, efficient, convenient, and timely manner.
Welcome from the Director & Chief Clerk of Administration:
Sahira J. Abdool
Greetings,
With well over six to eight thousand customers visiting our courts daily, the Municipal Courts Administration team members have the ability to turn a customers’ experience of concern into one of service excellence in a fair, efficient, convenient and timely manner. It is the role of the Chief Clerk’s Office to ensure that all court records, data, and information are accurate, that our buildings are running efficiently and are safe, and that when we reach out to a customer we do so with great care and a sincere desire to help them. It is our daily charge to act with credibility, a high level of integrity and to build public confidence and trust in our Municipal Courts. Our leadership and department culture advocates that customers are not an interruption to our work but the sole purpose of our work and we look forward to servicing you.
Background:
Ms. Sahira J. Abdool earned a Masters degree in Public Administration from The University of Tennessee and an undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Abdool left her post as the Deputy Director for Administrative Services at the City's Houston Public Library in 2006. Prior to joining HPL in 2000, Abdool was the Administrator & Regional Director of Claims and Call Center Operations with Cigna Healthcare from 1993 to 2000. From 1988 to 1993 she served as the Manager of Human Resources for the Corporate Office of Provident Life and Accident Insurance in Chattanooga, Tennessee.