Volume 8 Issue 33 to 46

Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced

Texas HB 176 (2015) Requires state's courts to protect 2nd Amendment rights. Waives sovereign and official immunity allowing judges to be sued personally. Prefiled.

Texas HJR 32 (Constitutional Amendment) (2015) Provides "A court of this state shall uphold and apply the laws of the Constitution of the United States, this Constitution, federal laws, and the laws of this state, including the doctrine grounded in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and known as the church autonomy doctrine, which in part requires courts to refrain from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or application." Prefiled.

Texas SJR 8 (Constitutional Amendment) (2015) Authorizes the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional. Prefiled.

Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced

New Jersey SCR 148 (Constitutional Amendment) Increases mandatory retirement age for Superior Court only from 70 to 75. In Senate Judiciary Committee

Texas HB 257 (2015) Prohibits judges from having any interest in a business entity that owns, manages, or operates a private correctional or rehabilitation facility. Prefiled.

Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity

New Jersey AB 3587 Provides that retired justices and judges collecting pension or retirement allowance are eligible for recall duties until 85 years of age. Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee 9/22/14.

New Jersey AB 3706 ORIGINAL: Increases mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Tax Court judges from 70 to 75. AMENDED: Increase applies to Superior and Tax Court only. Approved as amended by Assembly Judiciary Committee 9/22/14.

New Jersey ACR 186 (Constitutional Amendment) Increases mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court and Superior Court from 70 to 75. AMENDED: Increase applies to Superior Court only. Approved as amended by Assembly Judiciary Committee 9/22/14.

Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced

Virginia SB 680 (2015) Repeals 2008 transfer of supervisory control over the magistrate system with the chief circuit court judge and the Committee on District Courts to the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court.  Prefiled.

Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced

Ohio HB 661 Increases the compensation of justices and judges of the courts and reinstates the annual cost of living adjustment to their compensation. In House Finance and Appropriations Committee.

Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity

Michigan HB 5785 Authorizes a court to impose on a guilty defendant any cost "reasonably related" to the court's actual costs. Defines "reasonably related" to include salaries and benefits for relevant court personnel, goods and services necessary for the operation of the court, and necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of court buildings and facilities. Requires courts that imposed those costs to report annually to the State Court Administrative Office, which would have to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature. Approved with Senate amendment by full House 10/2/14. To Governor for approval.  

Selection: Newly Introduced

Tennessee SB 1 (2005) Establishes legislature procedure for the appointment, confirmation and retention of appellate court judges. Prefiled.

Selection: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Structure Changes: Newly Introduced

NONE

Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity

NONE

Other: Newly Introduced

Montana D. 229 (2015) Clarifies retired judges or justices may handle all phases of a case if called for service. Draft requested.

New Jersey AB 3768 Establishes identical levels of domestic violence training for judges and judicial personnel. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.

New Jersey AB 3803 Establishes minimum level of domestic violence training for judges and judicial personnel consisting of at least three hours for Superior Court and municipal court judges and judicial personnel. In Assembly Women and Children Committee.

New Jersey SB 2515 Confers title of Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on certain judges of the Superior Court, Appellate Division, temporarily assigned to the Supreme Court. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

New Jersey SB 2555 Establishes identical levels of domestic violence training for judges and judicial personnel. In Senate Judiciary Committee.

Texas SB 64 (2015) Requires state's appellate courts render decisions in civil cases within certain deadlines. Provides failure to issue opinion subjects judge/justice to removal from further duties/hearings until opinion issued and/or judicial disciplinary proceedings. Prefiled. 

Other: Floor and Committee Activity

New Jersey AB 2481 Creates penalties for filing of false liens/documents against judges, clerks, and other officials. Approved by Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee 9/18/14.

Pennsylvania SB 601 Enacts Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act. Provides for official publication of decisions of the state's courts and rules of court. Approved by full House 9/17/14. To Governor for approval.