April 19, 2024 -- Since 2006, Gavel to Gavel has tracked state-by-state legislative activity with potential impact on state courts.
New and active legislation includes:
- Security
- Bills to address access to and publication of personal information about judges advance in three legislative chambers (Hawaii House, Hawaii Senate, Louisiana House) and two committees (Minnesota House and Senate);
- Louisiana House approves the creation of a Judicial Security Task Force; and
- Tennessee House committee advances bill to create a Class E felony offense of assault against a participant in judicial proceedings while on the premises of a building in which judicial proceedings occur; similar bill approved by the Senate earlier this year.
- Selection
- Mississippi House agrees with Senate-approved bill to make justice court elections nonpartisan; and
- Oklahoma Senate rejects House-approved constitutional amendment to end merit selection for appellate judges in the state.
- Other
- Hawaii House and Senate approve constitutional amendments to increase mandatory judicial retirement ages;
- Louisiana House approves bill that requires courts to provide itemized revenues and expenditures reports to the Supreme Court every year;
- Nebraska legislature considers resolution honoring "the hard work of and good decisions made by the justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court;" and
- New Jersey Assembly approves resolution "condemning" the Arizona Supreme Court over its recent abortion decision.