In an effort to make “tremendous” changes to the way the municipal court system is run, city officials Friday appointed Walterine Langford, a former city prosecutor, to head the court as what Mayor Laurence Leyens termed “chief executive top dog judge.”

The city-run court has two judges, Allen Deriveaux and Lewis Burke, who hear cases and make rulings. Langford will now serve as the full-time city judge, which will put her in charge of the entire court services for the city, Leyens said. It’s the first time someone has headed the department.

“That’s what’s been missing down there,” he said.

While Leyens pinpointed changes he’d like to see – the way money is collected and warrants are served and a move from nighttime court to daytime – no changes will be final until Langford derives a complete plan.

“Over the next couple of weeks, she’s going to do an assessment and then she’ll come back to the board,” Leyens said. “We’re waiting for her to make a decision.”

He indicated the court needs some fine-tuning that could save the city money and enhance the penalties for people who break the law.

“We’ve been trying for at least two years to fix this last department that has had errors,” Leyens said. “We need a full-time judge who’s responsible for outcomes in collection and in charge of behavior.”

Police Chief Tommy Moffett said he welcomes the change in the court system.

“In my almost seven years, we’ve had the same judges and the court sessions go in the same direction,” he said. “We have repeat offenders. I think we need to take a fresh look at how they’re being dealt with. That may bring about change – not to say the judges haven’t done a good job.”

He said it’s the overall picture of the court system that needs evaluating. And, with a full-time judge there, that can be done.

“It gives more continuity as it relates to dealing with the court itself,” he said.

Langford will step into the role immediately. She was not available Friday for comment.