Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
NONE
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
Delaware HB 48 (Constitutional Amendment) Adds "the highest appellate court of any foreign country, or any foreign governmental agency regulating the public issuance or trading of securities" to the list of entities that may certify questions of law to the Delaware Supreme Court. (Second adoption, first adoption was in 2013/2014 session). Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 4/29/2015.
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
New York SB 4979 Increases the term of office of judges of the New York city civil court housing part from 5 to 10 years for second and subsequent terms. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
Massachusetts HB 1343 (Constitutional Amendment) Sets 7 year terms for judges (currently serve until age 70). Rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee 4/30/2015.
Massachusetts HB 1609 (Constitutional Amendment) Increases mandatory retirement age from 70 to 76. Rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee 4/30/2015.
North Carolina HB 205 Increases mandatory retirement age from end of month judge turns 72 to end of month judge turns 75. Approved by House Committee on Pensions & Retirement 4/28/2015.
Texas HB 257 Prohibits judges from having any interest in a business entity that owns, manages, or operates a private correctional or rehabilitation facility. Approved by House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 4/29/2015.
Texas HB 2920 Provides assigned statutory probate court judge must have been an active judge at least 48 months (currently 72) to serve. Approved by House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 4/29/2015.
NONE
Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced
NONE
Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity
Maine HB 139 Authorizes the Supreme Judicial Court to adopt any rules or issue any orders necessary to implement its electronic case management and filing system. Requires the court to notify the Legislature of any such rules or orders and to recommend any changes in law needed to implement or promote the system. Approved by House Judiciary Committee. Approved by full House 4/28/2015.
Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced
Colorado SB 288 Links salaries of state executive officials and state legislature to judicial salaries. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity
Alabama SB 411 Establishes new retirement plans for justices, judges, and circuit clerks, known as Judges' and Clerks' Plan first elected or appointed to their respective positions on or after November 8, 2016. Provides plan to operate under the Judicial Retirement Fund. Approved by Senate Finance and Taxation Committee 4/30/15.
Louisiana HB 27 Alters deferred retirement benefits from the Clerks of Court Retirement and Relief Fund for members first hired on or after January 1, 2011. In House Retirement Committee.
New Hampshire SB 90 Changes to the preparation process for the judicial branch budget. Approved by full House 4/29/2015.
Oklahoma SB 549 Eliminates procedure linking salaries of other state officers/elected officials to judicial salaries. Approved by full Senate 4/30/2015. To Governor for approval.
Selection: Newly Introduced
NONE
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
South Carolina HB 3979 Requires judicial nominating commission release all qualified names (currently releases 3 names). Allows currently serving members of legislature to be elected to at-large judicial office (in South Carolina, most judges are elected by legislature). Approved by full House 4/28/2015.
Texas HB 2088 Requests interim study regarding the method by which district judges and appellate justices and judges are selected. Approved by House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 4/29/2015.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
Alabama HJR 171 Creates Business Litigation and Complex Litigation Study Committee to study possible creation of business courts/divisions. In House Rules Committee.
Alabama SJR 50 Creates Business Litigation and Complex Litigation Study Committee to study possible creation of business courts/divisions. In Senate Rules Committee.
Pennsylvania HB 323 Creates Commerce Division of the Superior Court (one of state's two intermediate appellate courts). In House Judiciary Committee.
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
Texas SB 455 Provides challenges to state laws to be heard on request of Attorney General by three-judge panels of District Court, two of whom are to be chosen by Chief Justice. Approved by Senate State Affairs Committee 4/28/2015.
Other: Newly Introduced
Delaware HB 112 (Constitutional Amendment) Adds Chief Magistrate of the Justice of the Peace Court to state's judicial disciplinary body. In House Judiciary Committee.
Delaware HB 113 Specifically authorizes Supreme Court to hear cases outside Dover in cases of judicial emergencies or to inform/educate public. In House Judiciary Committee.
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
Colorado SB 185 Requires the judicial department to report data on charges, dispositions, sentences, and probation revocations, including race, ethnicity, gender, and incident report number. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/28/2015. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 5/1/2015.
Indiana HB 1371 For judges and other "public employees" provides common law liens filed against them are void unless suit is filed within 30 days. Provides that certain judicial officers, law enforcement officers, victims of domestic violence, and certain public officials who want to restrict access to their home addresses by means of a public property data base web site must submit a written request to the appropriate county, municipality, or township. Requires a county, municipality, or township that operates a public property data base web site to establish a process to prevent a member of the general public from gaining access to these home addresses by means of the public property data base web site. Conference committee report approved by House and Senate 4/29/2015.
Louisiana HB 728 ORIGINAL: Requires all pleadings in justice of the peace courts be written. AMENDED: Requirement all pleadings be in writing removed by committee. Approved as amended by House Judiciary Committee 4/22/15.
Missouri HB 122 Provides a municipal, associate circuit, or circuit judge who has completed the required firearms safety training course is added to the list of individuals who are exempt from specified provisions regarding the carrying of a concealed weapon. Approved by full House 4/30/2015.
New Hampshire SB 258 Changes the timing of determination of weighted case units for the purpose of calculating the judicial branch operating budget request and judicial salaries from October to July. Approved by full House 4/29/2015.
North Carolina HB 562 Allows prosecutors to carry firearms into courtrooms. Approved by House Judiciary I Committee 4/28/2015. Approved by House Committee on Rules, Calendars, & Operations of the House 4/29/2015.
Oregon HB 3399 Requires justice court or municipal court to record criminal proceedings. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 4/27/2015.
Oregon SB 385 Adds justice court and municipal court to definition of "court facility" in which firearms and other weapons are prohibited except in specified circumstances. Approved by full Senate 4/27/2015.
Rhode Island SB 526 Eliminates the responsibility of the division of public buildings, and department of administration to acquire suitable courtrooms for the sessions of the district court. Approved by full House 4/28/2015.
Texas SB 1116 Provides for a notice or document sent by mail or electronic mail by a court, justice, judge, magistrate, or clerk of a judicial court. Approved by full Senate 4/30/2015.
Texas SB 1913 Clarifies the statutory authority of judges to hire a county court administrator in a county served by multiple state district courts and county courts at law. Approved by Senate State Affairs Committee 4/29/15.
Wisconsin SB 117 Provides a person who intentionally causes or threatens bodily harm to a current or former judge or a judge's family member in response to any action taken by the judge is guilty of a Class H felony. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee & Public Safety Committee 4/28/2015.