Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
Hawaii HB 1648 Establishes small claims division’s exclusive jurisdiction of cases for amounts of $1,000 or less. In House Judiciary Committee.
Oklahoma HB 2392 Increases small claims jurisdiction from $7,500 to $10,000. Prefiled.
West Virginia HB 2956 Bans court use of foreign or international law. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia HB 2994 Prohibits courts from using, implementing, referring to or incorporating a tenet of any body of religious sectarian law into any decision . In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 305 Increases jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts from $5,000 to $30,000. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
Indiana HB 1322 Specifies that circuit courts, superior courts, and probate courts have original and concurrent jurisdiction under certain provisions of the Indiana Code. Approved by House Courts and Criminal Code Committee 1/21/16.
Michigan SB 709 Provides for the implementation of a plan of concurrent jurisdiction within a judicial circuit. Subject to approval by the Supreme Court and limitations specified in the Act, within a judicial circuit, a plan of concurrent jurisdiction must be adopted by a majority vote of all of the judges of the trial courts in the plan unless a majority of all of the judges of the trial courts in that judicial circuit vote not to have a plan of concurrent jurisdiction. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 1/21/16.
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
Oklahoma HB 2339 Creates prospective mandatory retirement age for appellate judges of 75. Prefiled.
Oklahoma HJR 1040 (Constitutional Amendment) Sets term limits for Supreme Court only of 12 years. Permits Supreme Court judges serving as of 1/1/2017 to serve their current term plus 12 years. Prefiled.
Utah HB 160 Requires justice court judges be attorneys. Provides requirement contingent on passage of constitutional amendment. In House Rules Committee.
Virginia HB 1245 Broadens the age 73 mandatory retirement provision to include all judges regardless of when elected by the General Assembly. In House Appropriations Committee.
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
Florida HJR 197 (Constitutional Amendment) ORIGINAL: Creates retroactive term limits for appellate judges. Prohibits service of more than two terms. AMENDED: Specifies provisions are not retroactive. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 1/21/16.
Indiana SB 81 Allows a senior judge or a judge pro tempore serving in a county that has more than one superior court judge to, with the consent of any judge of a superior court in the county, sit as the judge of the superior court in any matter as if the senior judge or judge pro tempore were the elected judge or appointed judge of the superior court. Approved by full Senate 1/21/16.
Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced
NONE
Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced
Colorado SB 60 Gradually shifts fiscal responsibility to provide for courtrooms and court facilities from counties to state. In Senate Finance Committee.
Iowa HSB 527 Sets judicial salaries. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia HB 2197 Removes the compensation caps entirely for secretary-clerks and case coordinators in courts. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 40 Changes definition of facilities eligible for funding assistance from Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity
Kansas HB 2449 Repeals provision of HB 2005 of 2015 that defunds courts if they strike down any portion of HB 2005 of 2015. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 1/14/15. Approved by full House 1/21/16.
New Hampshire HB 1676 Allows for the attachment, assignment, or execution on 1/2 of the amount of benefits accruing to a person under the judicial retirement plan Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 1/22/16.
Virginia SB 50 Increases from $10 to $20 the maximum amount a local governing body may assess against a convicted defendant as part of the costs in a criminal or traffic case in district or circuit court to fund courthouse and courtroom security. Approved by Senate Courts of Justice Committee 1/18/16.
Selection: Newly Introduced
Maryland SB 179 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends elections for Circuit Courts. Provides governor to appoint with senate confirmation. Provides additional terms to be obtained via reappointment and reconfirmation. Reduces terms in office from 15 years down to 10 years. In Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Oklahoma HJR 1042 (Constitutional Amendment) Continues Judicial Nominating Commission but provides Commission to forward all qualified candidates (currently limited to 3) in ranked order. Prefiled.
Oklahoma SJR 50 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends merit selection/commission system for appellate judicial appointment. Provides governor may appoint any qualified person subject to senate confirmation. Prefiled.
South Carolina SB 1004 Requires Judicial Merit Screening Commission advance all qualified names (currently limited to 3 names). In Senate Judiciary Committee
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
New Hampshire CACR 15 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends appointment of judges and replaces with elections. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 1/22/16.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
Washington HB 2784 Declares current court made up of 9 justices violates state's constitution. Reduces supreme court from 9 members to 5. Provides all currently serving judges terms are to expire after passage. In House (no committee).
West Virginia HB 2265 Increases the minimum number of magisterial districts in a county from 3 to 4. In House Political Subdivisions Committee.
West Virginia SB 9 Creates Intermediate Court of Appeals made up of 2 divisions of 3 judges each. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 48 Authorizes creation of Mental Health, Veteran and Service Members Court program ion circuits to be determined by state court administrator. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Other: Newly Introduced
Maryland SB 156 Prohibits a person from retaliating against a juror or officer of the court for the performance of official duties in a State or federal court. Prohibits a person from soliciting another to retaliate against a juror or officer of the court for the performance of official duties in a State or federal court. In Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Maryland SB 194 Provides the Judicial Ethics Committee as an alternative to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities or another body designated by a specified court, shall administer and implement specified provisions of law that apply to State officials of the Judicial Branch. In Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.
Oklahoma HB 2453 Requires Council on Judicial Complaints report on categories and types of judicial office complaints received for and data regarding cases forwarded to Supreme Court for action. Allows complaints to be considered public records. Requires all judicial disciplinary actions made by Supreme Court to be published with judge's name. Provides Court on the Judiciary to publish similar information. Prefiled.
Virginia HB 332 Provides that a judge or retired judge of the Commonwealth may carry a concealed handgun throughout the Commonwealth without a permit. Approved as amended by House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, Subcommittee #2.
Virginia SB 590 Allows the Judicial Council to determine when the circuit courts are open subject to the current allowances in the Code for holidays and safety concerns. In Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
West Virginia HB 2600 Requires judges give specific jury nullification instructions. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia HB 2938 Requires the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to maintain a searchable, criminal database containing copies of all arrests and convictions by all the courts in the state. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 310 Provides Public Records law does not include public distribution of home address, phone, or other data related to judges. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
Florida HB 815 Revises provisions concerning filing of decisions of Supreme Court & DCAs & their judges. Transfers headquarters of 2d Appellate District. Removes requirement that clerk of DCA keep records at headquarters office. Requires such clerk to have office at headquarters. Approved by House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee 1/19/16.
Indiana HB 1047 Creates the circuit and superior court motion clerk pilot program (pilot program) to provide assistance to courts with preparing orders for complex motions. Provides that the judicial center may administer the pilot program. Requires the judicial center to report to the interim study committee on courts and the judiciary (committee) concerning the pilot program. Requires the committee to receive reports concerning the pilot program, and allows the committee to make recommendations and to propose legislation concerning the pilot program. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 1/21/16.
New Hampshire HB 1217 Requires meetings of judicial council be publicized 10 days prior to occurring and be open to allow any member of the public to speak on any issue. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 1/22/16.
New Hampshire HB 1677 Abolishes the supreme court general counsel position and the judicial council. Transfers the judicial council's duties relative to public defenders and counsel and guardians ad litem for the indigent to the department of justice. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 1/22/16.
Virginia HB 64 Requires the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to establish an electronic filing system for use by the general district courts. Requires judges or clerks of the general district courts to transmit to the appellate court all documents required on appeal in electronic form. Approved by House Courts of Justice Committee, Civil Law Subcommittee 1/20/16.
Virginia HB 442 Allows the Judicial Council to determine when the circuit courts are open subject to the current allowances in the Code for holidays and safety concerns. Approved by House Courts of Justice Committee, Civil Law Subcommittee 1/20/16.
Virginia SB 544 Provides that a judge or retired judge of the Commonwealth may carry a concealed handgun throughout the Commonwealth without a permit. Approved by Senate Courts of Justice Committee 1/20/16.