Arizona: Legislature approves bill to transfer licensing of attorneys from state bar to the supreme court and prohibits the court from requiring an attorney to be a member of any organization to become or remain a licensed attorney

A review of state legislation affecting the courts

May 19, 2023 -- Since 2006, Gavel to Gavel has tracked state-by-state legislative activity with potential impact on state courts.

Notable legislation includes:

• Arizona: Legislature approves bill to transfer licensing of attorneys from state bar to the supreme court and prohibits the court from requiring an attorney to be a member of any organization to become or remain a licensed attorney.
• Louisiana: House Judiciary committee forwards a plan to require uniform court data reporting standards for all case filings and adjudications; the standard would be developed with the supreme court and clerks of court.
• Texas: House and Senate advance numerous bills including:
  • granting the State Commission on Judicial Conduct the authority to enforce the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct on judicial candidates.
  • requiring the Office of Court Administration to report disaggregated performance measures and the annual clearance rate for every court.
  • requiring judicial candidates to disclose any record of sanctions as well as their courtroom experience, with candidates for appellate courts describing previous appellate court briefs and oral arguments.
  • an increase in the state's mandatory judicial retirement from 75 to 79 subject to voter approval in 2024.