February 2, 2024 -- Since 2006, Gavel to Gavel has tracked state-by-state legislative activity with potential impact on state courts.
New and active legislation includes:
- Judicial Security:
- Maryland introduces Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson Judicial Security Act, named after judge killed in 2023. Bill would allow judges to ask governmental entities or others to not publish personal information on the Internet, social media, or social networks or remove the information from any existing publication;
- Mississippi and Virginia bills would require local governments to meet minimum security standards for the protection of judges and court staff; and
- New Jersey bill prohibits disclosure of certain personal identifying information, including home address and photographic image, concerning any federal, State, or municipal judicial officer, or that judicial officer's immediate family members.
- Tennessee bill would require the administrative office of the courts to report the courts to the legislature that are failing to report the data.
- Judicial selection: bills in Maryland (Orphan's Court) and Mississippi (Justice Court) would require lower court judges to run on nonpartisan ballots.