Volume 7 Issue 10

Indicates featured legislation

Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced

Connecticut SB 986 Requires each state agency to follow any order, denial or decree of a Probate Court that is applicable to a determination made by the state agency. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Missouri HB 757 Prohibits courts from using international or foreign law. In House (no committee).

North Carolina HB 199 Increases district court civil jurisdiction from $10,000 to $25,000. In House (no committee).

Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity

Arizona HB 2240 Increases small claims jurisdiction from $2,500 to $5,000. Approved by full House 2/26/13.

Indiana SB 460 Prohibits the enforcement of a foreign law (defined as a law, rule, or legal code or system established and used outside the jurisdiction of the United States) if the enforcement would violate a right granted by the Constitution of the State of Indiana or the Constitution of the United States. Provides that a provision in a contract or agreement that calls for the application of foreign law is void if the provision cannot be modified, unless the contract explicitly states that it will be interpreted in accordance with foreign law. Prohibits a court from granting certain motions to transfer a case to another jurisdiction if the transfer is likely to affect the constitutional rights of the nonmoving party. Approved by full Senate 2/26/13.

Maryland HB 589 Prohibits state judges and jurors from enforcing federal firearms laws. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 2/25/13.

Mississippi HB 244 Creates category of expedited small claims for cases between $5,000 and $100,000. Approved by Senate Judiciary A Committee 2/28/13.

New Hampshire CACR 7 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides legislature alone shall have the authority and full discretion to define reasonable standards for elementary and secondary public education and to establish reasonable standards of accountability therefor. Provides legislature alone shall have full discretion to determine the amount of, and methods of raising and distributing, state funding for education. Rejected by House Education Committee 2/26/13.

Oklahoma SB 1015 Provides "A court, arbitrator, administrative agency or other adjudicative, mediation or enforcement authority shall not enforce or utilize any foreign law if doing so would permit a means of mitigating punishment or provide a defense or justification for the commission of a misdemeanor or felony, as defined in Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes." Approved by full Senate 2/25/13.

Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced

California AB 868 Requires Judicial Council train judges and judicial officers on the effects of gender identity and sexual orientation on family law proceedings. Requires training on cultural competency and sensitivity relating to, and best practices for, providing adequate care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. In Assembly (no committee).

Iowa HB 310 Requires a full-time associate juvenile judge at the time of appointment to reside in the judicial election district where the vacancy exists and remain residing in the district for the entire term. (Currently must reside in the county, not the district). In House Judiciary Committee.

Massachusetts SB 839 Provides clerks of court appointed by the governor must retire at age 65. Provides for process for removing clerks of court from office. In Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

North Carolina HB 161 Provides magistrates are subject to same mandatory retirement age as judges. In House Judiciary B Committee.

Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity

Hawaii HB 275 (Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes the chief justice to appoint judges who have retired upon attaining the age of seventy years as emeritus judges. Permits appointed judges to serve as temporary judges in courts no higher than the court level they reached prior to retirement and for terms not to exceed three months per each appointment. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Mississippi SB 2046 Requires justice court clerks receive 12 hours of annual training. Approved with House amendment by House Judiciary A Committee 2/28/13.

Montana HB 467 Requires justice of the peace courts that are courts of record have judges that meet the same qualifications as a municipal court judge (i.e. must be attorney and admitted to practice for at least 3 years). Killed in House Judiciary Committee 2/23/13.

Oklahoma SJR 24 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides appellate court judges and justices to serve a single 20-year term and not be subject to retention elections. Provides new limit is prospective. Approved by Senate Rules Committee 2/20/13.

Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced

Massachusetts HB 1519 Provides if chief justice/chief judge closes court due to inclement weather in a geographical area, all trial court departments in such geographical area shall be closed. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts SB 651 Declares "The Courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are becoming worse in their disdain for the law and facts and in their support of an old boys network to protect favored attorneys whom the Judges might know or with whose law firm the Judges might wish to curry favor." Strikes Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure 66 (b)-(f) (related to receivership). In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Rhode Island SB 488 Requires the approval of the supreme court of any rules regulating the practice, procedure and business of the workers' compensation court consistent with the procedures in effect for all other courts. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

West Virginia HB 2726 Authorizes supreme court to adopt a standardized risk and needs assessment for use by probation officers and to adopt a standardized pretrial screening instrument for use by the Regional Jail Authority. Creates Community Supervision Committee to be appointed by state court administrator. In House Judiciary Committee.

West Virginia HCR 44 Requests a study on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Supreme Court Rules on the Appeals process in West Virginia. In House Rules Committee.

West Virginia SB 371 Authorizes supreme court to adopt a standardized risk and needs assessment for use by probation officers and to adopt a standardized pretrial screening instrument for use by the Regional Jail Authority. Creates Community Supervision Committee to be appointed by state court administrator. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity

Montana HB 358 Allows courts to ban the caring firearms into a court facility, but only if the court provides a secure storage area. Rejected by full House 2/22/13.

Oregon HB 2547 Authorizes Chief Justice to adopt rules for use of electronic transmission and electronic signature on documents transmitted to or from a circuit court related to jury service and summons. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13. To Governor for signature.

Oregon HB 2562 Allows Chief Justice of Supreme Court to adopt rules governing use of electronic applications for all state court records and for transmission of jury information to circuit courts. Approved by full House 2/27/13.

Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced

Arkansas HB 1566 Increases funding for County Clerks Continuing Education Fund and Circuit Clerks Continuing Education Fund. In House City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

Florida SB 1380 Providing that “termination” for a senior justice or judge occurs when all employment ceases and the justice or judge retires from the Florida Retirement System. Provides that a senior justice or judge is not subject to certain specified limitations on employment after retirement. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Georgia HB 477 Provides for transfer of service credit from the Georgia Judicial Retirement System to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia. In House Retirement Committee.

Maine SB 263 Implements recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission by providing cost-of-living increases that would have occurred since 2003 but were not granted. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts HB 1240 Creates Youth Court Fund. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts HB 1286 Provides appropriation for the purposes of court facilities rental payments to each county, city, or town shall be made by the legislature through individual line-items within the general appropriation act for that fiscal year. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts HB 1514 Provides for 5% longevity bonus for judges who served at least 15 continuous years. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts HB 1631 Provides for automatic cost of live adjustments for judicial salaries based on Consumer Price Index. In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

Massachusetts HB 2272 Provides survivors of judges who die "in the performance of his/her duties" are to receive maximum retirement benefits as if judge were fully vested, etc. Defines "in the performance of his/her duties" as including judicial assignments in any courthouse or other venue, such as hospitals or jails, used to conduct judicial business; to Emergency Judicial Response System assignments; to approved voluntary or assigned education programs or other assignment within the scope of his/her employment as a judge or justice. In Joint Committee on Public Service.

Massachusetts HB 2392 Revises retirement benefit and other statutes for judges age 65-70 who take on senior judge status. In Joint Committee on Public Service.

Massachusetts HB 2443 Revises cost-of-living adjustments for retired judges. In Joint Committee on Public Service.

Michigan HB 911 Requires zero based budgeting for courts. In House Government Operations Committee.

Michigan SB 401 Requires zero based budgeting for courts. In Senate Finance Committee.

Minnesota HB 953 Revises Judges retirement plan, including reducing post-retirement adjustments, increasing normal retirement age for new judges, changing member and employer contribution rates and allowing existing judges to elect to be treated as a new judge for benefit and contribution purposes. In House Government Operations Committee.

Minnesota HB 974 Allows law library fees to be used to pay for augmenting or enhancing technology systems and infrastructure paid for and supported by the state courts. In House Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee.

Minnesota SB 983 Revises Judges retirement plan, including reducing post-retirement adjustments, increasing normal retirement age for new judges, changing member and employer contribution rates and allowing existing judges to elect to be treated as a new judge for benefit and contribution purposes. In Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Texas HB 1702 Provides staff and others hired by the trial courts serve at the pleasure of the judge who appointed the staff or personnel and that the judges are to determine compensation for staff and support personnel. In House Judiciary Committee.

Texas HB 1710 Provides if state fails to increase state salary paid to a district judge for 3 years, county may provide cost of living adjustment of up to 10% of judge's salary. Provides if state later increases salary, county may revoke the increase it is paying. In House Judiciary Committee.

West Virginia SB 398 Changes the definition of facilities that are eligible for funding assistance from Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority from ones that are occupied by county or judicial officials to ones that are currently owned and occupied by those officials or upon renovation will be owned and occupied by those officials. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

West Virginia SB 378 Increases salaries of those magistrates and their staffs whose salaries were reduced as a result of the 2010 census to precensus amounts. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

West Virginia SB 403 Provides a sliding scale for the retirement contribution of judges participating in the judicial retirement system to ensure that the judicial pension system remains fully funded and is a “qualifying system” under federal law. In Senate Pensions Committee.

Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity

Arizona HB 2294 Changes laws regarding full time court commissioners in Superior Court eligibility to enter state retirement system. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Arizona SB 1032 Prohibits a city or town from transferring monies from a municipal court to any other department after the final budget has been adopted unless the governing body of a city or town approves the transfer. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13.

Arkansas SB 307 Revises various statutes related to state's Administrative of Justice Fund. Approved by full Senate 2/25/13. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/28/13.

Georgia SB 142 Provides Georgia Judicial Retirement System board of trustees shall have the authority to determine the time and circumstances of paying benefits to the extent necessary to preserve the retirement system's status as a qualified plan under federal law. Provides that a prohibition against a person receiving a pension from accepting public employment shall apply to persons who become members on or after July 1, 2014, without regard to age. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13.

Hawaii HB 807 Corrects anomalies of service retirement service eligibility and normal and early retirement allowances for judges who became members of the Employees' Retirement System prior to July 1, 2012, and first earned service credit as a judge after June 30, 2012. Approved by House Finance Committee 2/25/13. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Idaho HB 103 Makes temporary emergency surcharge on court fees/fines permanent. Approved by full House 2/27/13.

Indiana HB 1393 Establishes the judicial technology oversight committee (committee) to: (1) conduct a continuous study of information technology applications for Indiana's judicial system; (2) develop a long range strategy for technology and automation in Indiana's judicial system; and (3) make recommendations to the supreme court concerning the implementation of policies, standards, and rules that promote the effective use of technology and automation in Indiana courts. Increases the automated record keeping fee from $5 to $10 for all civil, criminal, infraction, and ordinance violation actions with certain exceptions. Provides that the automated record keeping fee is $5 for all civil, criminal, infraction, and ordinance violation actions resulting in the accused person entering into a: (1) pretrial diversion program agreement; or (2) deferral program agreement. Approved by full House 2/25/13.

Indiana SB 527 Urges the legislative council to assign to the pension management oversight commission the task of studying the retirement, disability, and death benefits currently provided to judges and full-time magistrates. Approved by full Senate 2/26/13.

Montana SB 322 Provides counties need only provide Justice Courts the "minimally required" resources to operate. Rejected by Senate Local Government Committee 2/22/13.

New Mexico HB 95 Adds a new tier of benefit structure for new members of the Judicial Retirement Act (JRA) and the Magistrate Retirement Act (MRA). Approved by full House 2/27/13.

New Mexico SB 27 Changes contribution and cost of living rates for judicial retirement system and magistrate retirement system. Approved by Senate Finance Committee 2/27/13.

Washington HB 1542 Requires courts to appoint a certified or registered interpreter at public expense in all legal proceedings in which a non-English-speaking person is a party or is compelled to appear. Requires the state to pay 50 percent of the cost of interpreters beginning in January 2017.Requires courts to track and provide interpreter cost and usage data annually to the Administrative Office of the Courts. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 3/1/13.

Washington HB 1961 Extends the expiration date for surcharges on court filing fees that are deposited into the Judicial Stabilization Trust Account until July 1, 2015. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 3/1/13.

Selection: Newly Introduced

Maryland HB 1234 Requires a local board of elections to conduct a random drawing of the names of the candidates for election for circuit court judge to determine the order of the names on the ballot. In House Ways & Means Committee.

Missouri SB 351 Requires judge recuse if attorney or party in case served on merit selection commission that nominated the judge. Also requires recusal if party's attorney is currently employed by a firm who also employs a person who served on the commission. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

New York AB 5460 Requires parties and their counsel disclose to opposing counsel campaign contributions above $500 in the last five years to campaign of the judge presiding over their case. Provides if the other side has made no such contributions themselves, the judge must recuse upon timely application of the non-contributing party. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Oregon HB 3182 Directs Oregon Law Commission to appoint work group to study methods of selecting judges. In House Judiciary Committee.

Oregon HB 3304 Creates Commission on Fitness of County Clerks to appoint county clerks, hold hearings upon complaint concerning conduct of county clerk and censure or remove county clerks for cause. In House Rules Committee.

Oregon HJR 32 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends elections for county clerks. In House Rules Committee.

Rhode Island SB 471 Extends until 2014 law allowing any individual whose name was publicly submitted to the governor by the judicial nominating commission, eligible for subsequent nomination by the governor. In House Judiciary Committee. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Rhode Island SB 473 Vests with the governor the sole authority to nominate, on the basis of merit, from a list submitted by the judicial nominating commission with the advice and consent of the senate, all judges and magistrates, to all courts. (Currently presiding judges & chief judges appoint certain magistrates). In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Rhode Island HB 5699 Extends until 2014 law allowing any individual whose name was publicly submitted to the governor by the judicial nominating commission, eligible for subsequent nomination by the governor. In House Judiciary Committee.

Selection: Floor and Committee Activity

Kansas HB 2019 Ends merit selection for court of appeals only. Provides governor may select nominees subject to senate confirmation. Provides failure by Senate to vote on candidate within certain time frame results in automatic confirmation. Approved by full House 3/1/13.

Kansas SB 8 ORIGINAL: Ends merit selection in state. Provides governor may select nominees subject to senate confirmation. Creates Commission on Judicial Qualifications to review governor's pick and make recommendations prior to Senate confirmation. Provides failure by Senate to vote on candidate within certain time frame results in automatic confirmation. AMENDED: Same, but renames commission Judicial Nominating Commission. Approved with House amendment by House Judiciary Committee 2/26/13.

Kentucky HB 427 Prohibits a judge acting as a Senior Status Special Judge from becoming a candidate for any elected office during the 5-year term prescribed in KRS 21.580 regardless of the number of days served by the judge acting as a Senior Status Special Judge. Approved by House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee 2/26/13. Approved by full House 3/1/13.

Kentucky HB 31 Establishes clean judicial elections fund for use in races for Supreme Court. Provides for funding via income tax designation & voluntary contributions. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 2/27/13.

New Mexico SB 16 Makes various changes to publicly financed judicial elections in state. Removes provisions related to non-certified candidates and seed money requirements. Alters contributions levels and limits. Changes provisions with respect to matching funds/rescue funds. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/26/13. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13.

New Mexico SB 15 For state's publicly finance judicial elections, sets rules for independent expenditures over $300. Provides for statement of top independent expenditure contributors in advertisements where contribution of $3000 or more from same independent expenditure person or group. Defines "coordinated expenditure" and specifies rules for such actions. Approved as amended by full Senate 2/28/13.

South Dakota SB 198 AS APPROVED BY SENATE: Adds two members to Judicial Qualifications Commission chosen by House and Senate leaders. Transfers power to name attorney members to JQC from bar president to majority vote of bar commissioners (JQC serves as merit selection commission for supreme court). AS APPROVED BY HOUSE: Removes all references to expansion of JQC. Approved with House amendment by full House 2/27/13. To Senate to concur with House amendment.

Utah HB 309 Clarifies when a judge may appear before the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/27/13.

Structure Changes: Newly Introduced

Nevada AB 159 Creates veterans treatment court diversion program. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

New York AB 5338 Restructures states town and village justice system. Creates or recreates local justice reform commissions, combination plans, commission procedure, transition provisions, and construction. Increases or establishes age and education requirements for judges of these courts. Restructures funding system. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Pennsylvania SB 561 Creates Medical Professional Liability Court with its own appellate division to handle med-mal claims. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Texas HJR 103 (Constitutional Amendment) Abolishes requirement that certain counties continue to be divided into not fewer than four precincts used to elect justices of the peace and constables. In House County Affairs Committee.

Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity

Maryland HB 83 Increases Court of Special Appeals (state's intermediate appellate court) from 13 to 15. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Mississippi HB 943 Allows county boards to establish County Courts. Approved by Senate County Affairs Committee 2/27/13. Approved by Senate Judiciary A Committee 2/28/13.

Other: Newly Introduced

Arkansas HB 1554 Requires district court judges filed statement of financial interest with county clerk (currently filed with city clerk in city they serve in). In House Judiciary Committee.

California AB 1127 Declares the intent of the Legislature that every effort be made to recruit and retain qualified interpreters to work in the state courts, and that the Judicial Council make further efforts to improve and expand court interpreter services and address the shortage of qualified court interpreters. In Assembly (no committee).

California AB 1293 Authorizes each superior court to deposit the fines and forfeitures that it collects into its Trial Court Operations Fund instead of with the county treasurer and distribute the funds as provided. Suspends existing law requiring State Auditor establish a pilot program to audit 6 trial courts. In Assembly (no committee).

California AB 1352 Clarifies that time periods to destroy court documents and records commence after the date of final disposition of the case. In Assembly (no committee).

California SB 705 Provides that a court may use existing electronic recording equipment for the purpose of judicial notetaking. In Senate Rules Committee.

Massachusetts HB 1342 Bill of address for the removal of 6 of the 7 members of the Supreme Judicial Court for various decisions related to loss of benefits and wages (Goodrow v. Lane Bryant, Inc., Wiedmann v. The Bradford 906 Group, Inc., and/or Rosnov v. Molloy). In Joint Committee on Judiciary.

New York AB 4661 Creates specific crime of filing false lien on judges and other officials. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

New York AB 5392 (Constitutional Amendment) Allows for recall of trial court judges. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

New York SB 2026 Creates specific crime of filing false lien on judges and other officials. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

North Carolina HB 164 Requests Chief Justice abolish North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission, established by Chief Justice. In House Rules Committee.

Pennsylvania HR 107 Urges supreme court require pro bono legal service as a condition of admission to the Pennsylvania Bar. In House Judiciary Committee.

Rhode Island SB 415 Requires a sign language or Communication Access Realtime Translation(CART) provider for all court proceedings. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Texas HB 1728 Provides for use of electronic court seal by constitutional county court or county clerk. In House Judiciary Committee.

Texas HB 1885 Specifics State Commission on Judicial Conduct does not have the power or authority of a court. Requires annual public meeting to hear from members of public regarding commission's performance. Requires commission turn over confidential information to Sunset Advisory Commission. Requires commission provide anyone whose complaint is rejected in plain, easily understandable language, each reason the conduct alleged in the complaint did not constitute judicial misconduct. In House Judiciary Committee.

Texas HJR 100 (Constitutional Amendment) Changes various provisions related to State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Deletes provisions regarding commission's work on " public censure, removal, or retirement" of judges. Provides Commission may order admonition, warning, reprimand, censure, or require additional training or education. In House Judiciary Committee.

Texas SB 966 Creates Judicial Branch Certification Commission to oversee the regulatory programs relating to court reporters, guardians, process servers, and court interpreters. In Senate (no committee).

Other: Floor and Committee Activity

Alabama HB 114 Provides courts authorized to contract with certain private entities to provide probation services for certain offenses. Approved with amendments by House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee 2/28/13.

Arizona HB 2516 Permits an officer acting in an official capacity to carry a firearm into the Arizona Supreme Court, court of appeals, superior courts, justice courts and municipal courts. Requires on-duty peace officers to carry official peace officer identification while attending court. Allows a presiding judge to establish rules or policies consistent with laws pertaining to the carrying of firearms by peace officers. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Arizona SB 1216 Removes language no longer used by the clerk of the court relating to books of record. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/27/13.

Arkansas HB 1325 Repeals existing statute related to court interpretation and replaces with new process for appointment, certification, and regulation of interpreters. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/27/13. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13. To Governor for signature.

Arkansas SB 411 Repeals requirement that state AOC develop web-based mandated reporter training curriculum. Approved by Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee 2/27/13. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13.

Colorado HB 1053 Repeals requirement that clerks of district courts execute surety bonds. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/26/13.

Georgia HB 215 ORIGINAL: Requires clerk of superior court be open at least 8 hours per day from 8 AM to 5 PM (currently must be open at least 9-5). AS AMENDED: Keeps 9-5 provision already in statute. Provides if clerk's office has 3 of fewer employees office may be open from at least 8 AM to noon and from at least 1 PM to 5 PM. Approved as amended by House Judiciary Committee 2/28/13.

Kansas HB 2115 Remove the time restrictions from current law to allow the Supreme Court to enter into senior judge contracts with retired judges or justices at any time. Approved by full House 2/28/13.

Kansas SB 81 Clarifies public agencies are not required to disclose on websites home addresses or home ownership of judges, court staff, and others specified. Approved by full Senate 2/28/13.

Maryland HB 790 Expands the scope of provisions of law governing collective bargaining to include all State employees of the Judicial Branch of State government. Rejected by House Appropriations Committee 2/18/13.

Mississippi HB 649 Provides when an election is challenged, the Chief Justice is to designate judge to hear case from outside the county/district/circuit the complaint was filed in. Approved by Senate Elections Committee 2/28/13.

Mississippi SB 2645 Allows Secretary of State to reject without filing false liens/UCC claims against judges, court staff, and other public officials/employees. Approved by House Judiciary A Committee 2/28/13.

Montana HB 352 Revises instances where a Justice of the Peace may call in another judge to act in the locality. Approved by full House 2/26/13.

Montana SB 85 Requires a motion to substitute district court judge must state necessity of substitution. Provides chief justice to call district judge to report substituted judge. Increases fee for motion to substitute from $100 to $1000. Killed in Senate Judiciary Committee 2/22/13.

New Hampshire HB 571 Establishes task force to study and make recommendations on the judicial branch family court division. Rejected by House Children and Family Law Committee 2/25/13.

New Hampshire HB 613 Statutorily creates redress of grievances committee. Provides committee may overturn judicial decisions, "remedy" any judicial decision, and "undertake proceedings to remove from office judges or attorneys that do not uphold their oaths of office." Committee would be allowed to subpoena any court documents and recommend dissolution of a court. Rejected by House Legislative Administration Committee 2/21/13.

New Hampshire HB 670 Allows for the appointment of new martial masters and permits current marital masters to remain in office until retirement, resignation, disability, or nonrenewal of appointment. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 2/26/13.

New York AB 1084 Requires orders of protection and temporary orders of protection issued in family court or in cases of family offenses in criminal court or in matrimonial actions to be translated by an interpreter into the native language of the parties. Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee 2/27/13.

North Dakota HB 1366 Allows all concealed carry permit holders to bring weapons into any "publicly owned or operated building", including courthouses. Approved by full House 2/25/13.

Oklahoma HB 1242 Authorizes district court judges to carry firearms anywhere in the state if judge undertakes certain training. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/27/13.

Oklahoma SB 403 Prohibits use of electronic devices in courtrooms. Approved by Senate Rules Committee 2/20/13.

Tennessee HB 363 Requires the background investigations for a judicial appointment to be completed within 90 days. Approved by House Civil Justice Committee subcommittee 2/27/13.

Washington SB 5484 Provides assault of a person in a courthouse, courtroom or building associated with court proceedings is a class C felony. Approved by Senate Law & Justice Committee 2/22/13.

Washington SB 5797 Legislature respectfully encourages the supreme court to adopt any administrative orders and court rules of practice and procedure it deems necessary to support the establishment of effective specialty courts. Approved by Senate Law & Justice Committee 3/22/13.

Washington SB 5860 Provides Attorney General is not required to institute legal actions on behalf of Superior Court judges un less requested to do so by the Administrator for the Courts. Approved by Senate Ways & Means Committee 3/1/13.