Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
NONE
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
Massachusetts SB 13 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires all judges be reappointed and reconfirmed every 10 years. In Joint Judiciary Committee.
Michigan HJR G (Constitutional Amendment) Eliminates mandatory judicial retirement age. In House Judiciary Committee.
Michigan HJR F (Constitutional Amendment) Eliminates mandatory judicial retirement age. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
Georgia HB 185 Allows associate probate judges to practice law as judge advocate generals in military/national guard. Approved by full House 2/15/17.
Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced
Washington HJR 4206 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires that all mandatory, regulatory, licensing, and disciplinary functions regarding the practice of law and administration of justice reside exclusively in the supreme court. In House Judiciary Committee.
Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity
Arizona HB 2220 AS AMENDED: Provides if the presiding judge of the superior court provides access or filing privileges to attorneys, the privileges must also be provided to pro se litigants. Provides access or filing privileges provided to attorneys may be limited to records of cases in which the attorney is a party or is on file with the court as the attorney of record for one of the parties. Provides access or filing privileges provided to pro se litigants may be limited to records related to the pro se litigant's own case. Approved as amended by full House 2/13/17.
Arizona HB 2295 Establishes the Supreme Court as the entity responsible for licensing attorneys for the practice of law in Arizona. Provides all regulatory functions relating to the practice of law, including the regulation of attorneys in this state, are within the authority of the supreme court alone. Approved by House Rules Committee 2/13/17.
Arizona HB 2300 Provides all regulatory functions relating to the practice of law within the authority of the supreme court. Provides all regulatory functions that are administered by the state bar including all public protection functions are transferred to and placed exclusively in the supreme court. Approved by House Rules Committee 2/13/17.
Arkansas SJR 8 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides all rules of practice and procedure adopted by supreme court subject to 3/5ths approval of legislature. Allows legislature to amend, repeal, or add rules of practice and procedure by 3/5ths vote. Approved by full Senate 2/16/17.
Indiana SB 228 Provides that the supreme court should adopt rules to establish the Indiana pretrial risk assessment system before January 1, 2020. Approved as amended by Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee 2/16/17.
Oklahoma HB 1234 Court Records Protection and Modernization Act. Allows for destruction or disposal of paper records if otherwise recorded onto media product approved by Supreme Court. Approved by House Government Modernization Committee 2/9/17.
Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced
Georgia HB 366 Defines salary for the purpose of determining benefit amounts from Georgia Judicial Retirement System. In House Retirement Committee.
Georgia HB 368 Grants clerks who have received training from University of Georgia certified superior court clerk program $200 a month. In House Judiciary Committee.
Georgia HB 370 Grants Council of Municipal Court Judges of Georgia power to create and administer savings and deferred compensation plans for members In House Judiciary Committee.
South Carolina HB 3744 Revises method for setting base salary for Magistrate Court judges. Provides additional supplements for chief and assistant chief magistrates. In House Ways and Means Committee.
South Carolina SB 148 Revises method for setting base salary for Magistrate Court judges. Provides additional supplements for chief and assistant chief magistrates. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Texas HB 1765 Alters compensation of certain district judges for performing extrajudicial services. In House (no committee).
Texas SB 824 Alters compensation of certain district judges for performing extrajudicial services. In Senate (no committee).
Washington SB 5809 Extends surcharges on court filing fees for deposit in the judicial stabilization trust account. In Senate Law & Justice Committee.
West Virginia HB 2314 Removes the compensation caps entirely for secretary-clerks and case coordinators . In House Judiciary Committee.
Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity
Kansas HB 2041 Extends the judicial branch surcharge fund. Approved by full House 2/13/17.
New Mexico SB 65 Creates Court Language Access Fund. Approved by Senate Finance Committee 2/14/17.
New Mexico SB 304 Creates magistrate courts operations fund Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/9/17.
Oregon HB 2636 Increases judicial salaries and provides for automatic increases for next several years. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/15/17.
Oregon SB 11 Increases judicial salaries and provides for automatic increases for next several years. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 2/15/17.
Wyoming HB 45 Provides budget requests by judiciary to be submitted directly to legislature using same methods and practices as executive branch. Approved by full Senate 2/10/17.
Wyoming SB 81 Increases circuit court judges salaries. Approved as amended by House Appropriations Committee 2/14/17.
Wyoming HB 192 ORIGINAL: Increases court automation fee from $10 to $20. AMENDED: Increases court automation fee from $10 to $25. Approved as amended by full Senate 2/15/17.
Selection: Newly Introduced
Arizona HB 2534 Ends merit selection of judges in state. Requires partisan election for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts. Reduces judges terms in office to 2 years (from 4-6 years). Contingent on constitutional amendment being adopted. In House Appropriations Committee.
Arizona HCR 2030 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends merit selection of judges in state. Requires partisan election for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts. Reduces judges terms in office to 2 years (from 4-6 years). In House Appropriations Committee.
Georgia HB 351 Provides for nonpartisan election of superior court clerks and other county officials. In House Governmental Affairs Committee.
Kansas HB 2245 Revises laws governing the process for electing members of the Supreme Court Nominating Commission and district judicial nominating commissions. In House Judiciary Committee.
North Carolina HB 100 Returns Superior and District Courts races to partisan races. In House Elections and Ethics Law Committee.
North Carolina SB 94 Makes Superior and District Courts races as well as other races partisan races. In Senate Rules Committee.
South Carolina HB 3746 Adds 5 members to Judicial Merit Selection Commission to be named by governor. In House Judiciary Committee
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
Tennessee SB 111 Extends the trial court vacancy commission to June 30, 2019 Approved by Senate Government Operations Committee 2/15/17.
Utah HB 93 Repeals the authority of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to make rules related to evaluation criteria for the selection of judicial nominees. Approved by full House 2/15/17.
Utah HB 191 Modifies provisions related to when the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission shall allow a judge to appear before the Commission. Provides for reconsideration if the Utah Supreme Court issues a public sanction of a judge before the voter information pamphlet is published. Addresses confidentiality and anonymity of survey responses. Modifies minimum performance standards. Addresses intercept surveys for justice court judges administered by the commission. Approved by full House 2/14/17.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
Idaho SB 1104 Removes the requirement of a resident magistrate judge in every county. Allows Supreme Court to move magistrate judge in certain instances to larger county in same district. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Iowa HF 338 Creates drug court in every judicial district. In House Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 207 Authorizes creation of Mental Health and Military Service Members Courts. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
West Virginia SB 277 Creates Intermediate Court of Appeals. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Other: Newly Introduced
Alabama HB 166 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires Judicial Inquiry Commission file complaint for judicial discipline against appellate judge with House Judiciary Committee, not Court of the Judiciary. Provides House Judiciary Committee may keep complaint or refer it to judiciary. Provides Court of the Judiciary not to hear case, but instead Court of Civil Appeals or Court of Criminal Appeals. In House Judiciary Committee.
California SB 339 Requires the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on a study of veterans and veterans treatment courts that includes a statewide assessment In Senate Rules Committee.
Connecticut HB 7083 Allows Probate Court employees to negotiate jointly for the purpose of wages and benefits. In Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees.
Florida SB 878 Requires Supreme Court report annually to governor and legislature cases taking longer than 180 days from oral argument to final decision and explain in detail the reasons for the delay as well as anticipated date for a final decision. In Senate (no committee).
Georgia HB 367 Requires creation of Certificate for Redacted Information to have information regarding judges and others removed from public records. In House Judiciary Committee.
Illinois HB 3054 Requires trial judges announce at start of every day parties may file complaint with Judicial Inquiry Board. Requires clerks post Judicial Inquiry Board information in every courtroom and provide Judicial Inquiry Board forms. In House Rules Committee.
Illinois HB 3106 Provides that marshals of the Supreme Court are peace officers and have all the powers possessed by police officers in cities and by sheriffs. In House Rules Committee.
Illinois SB 1647 Provides that "judicial officer" includes retired justices and judges for purposes of the Judicial Privacy Act. In Senate Assignments Committee.
Maine HP 427 Amends the definition of "qualified legal interpreter" in the laws governing communication services for deaf persons, hard-of-hearing persons and late-deafened persons in court to include in the definition a person who possesses qualifications, certifications or credentials to interpret in court proceedings as established by the Supreme Judicial Court. Amends the requirements for record keeping for briefs filed in the Supreme Judicial Court. In House Judiciary Committee.
Maryland HB 1191 Prohibits a clerk of a court from ruling on any motion or application. In House Judiciary Committee.
Nevada AB 125 Revises provisions relating to court interpreters. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Nevada AB 126 Abolishes the Commission to Review the Compensation of Constitutional Officers, Legislators, Supreme Court Justices, Judges of the Court of Appeals, District Judges and Elected County Officers. In Assembly Government Affairs Committee.
New Mexico SB 402 Requires sheriff provide court security for magistrates courts. In Senate Public Affairs Committee.
Oklahoma HR 1004 Directs state's judiciary in general and state's supreme court in particular not to "interfere" with state abortion laws. In House (no committee).
Pennsylvania SB 349 Creates crimes of simulated legal process, impersonating public official or legal tribunal, and hindering public official related to filing of false liens and similar items against judges and others. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Pennsylvania SB 361 (Constitutional Amendment) Replaces current election system for appellate judges with merit selection Appellate Court Nominating Commission and retention elections. Requires Senate confirmation for those chosen by commission and appointed by governor. In Senate Judiciary Committee.
Tennessee SB 213 Authorizes the administrative director to obtain a criminal history background check through the TBI and FBI on any applicant for employment. Permits the administrative director to establish the job titles or classifications to which the background check requirement applies. Requires the office to pay for the cost of the background checks. Approved by full Senate 2/13/17.
Texas HB 1743 Requires Office of Court Administration conduct study on court reporting. In House (no committee).
Texas HB 1761 Alters jurisdiction of Texas Supreme Court In House (no committee).
Texas HB 1957 For judicial campaigns, provides contribution by spouse is not considered contribution by other spouse. In House (no committee).
Texas HB 2003 Allows certain court clerks licensed to carry a handgun to carry gun into courthouse. In House (no committee).
Virginia SB 1044 Provides that the Supreme Court and any other court clerk may provide online access to subscribers who have entered into an agreement with the clerk to have secure remote access to court records of nonconfidential criminal case information to confirm the complete date of birth of a defendant. See HB 1713
West Virginia HB 2456 Requires the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to maintain a searchable, criminal database containing copies of all arrests and convictions by all the courts in the state. In House Judiciary Committee.
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
Alabama SB 90 Creates Judicial Resources Allocation Commission. Requires Commission review districts/circuits most in need of judgeships annually. Permits Commission to reallocate judgeship made vacant due to death, resignation, etc. Approved by full Senate 2/14/17.
Alabama SB 144 Requires Chief Justice recompile constitution to reflect all amendments. Approved by Senate Constitution, Ethics and Elections Committee 2/16/17.
Arkansas HB 1007 AS AMENDED: Removes judicial immunity in cases where a judge has ruled against a party and it is later determined the judge received or was influenced by a bribe in a criminal proceeding. Approved as amended by full House 2/16/17.
Arkansas HB 1354 Provides district court clerk employed by a city or county is governed by the employee handbook and policies of the city or county. Approved by full House 2/13/17.
Colorado HB 1142 Allows for certain court notices to be sent electronically using the e-filing system of the judicial department. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/14/17.
Florida HB 301 Requires Supreme Court report annually to governor and legislature cases taking longer than 180 days from oral argument to final decision and explain in detail the reasons for the delay as well as anticipated date for a final decision. Approved by full House 2/13/17.
Kansas SB 10 Provides for crime of lien filings against public officials including judges. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 2/10/17.
Maryland HB 165 Enacts Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act Approved by House Health and Government Operations Committee 2/14/17.
New Hampshire HB 133 Requires courts use exact jury instructions "If you have a reasonable doubt as to whether the state has proved any one or more of the elements of the crime charged, you must find the defendant not guilty. However if you find that the state has proved all the elements of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant guilty. Even if you find that the state has proved all of the elements of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, you may still find that based upon the facts of this case a guilty verdict will yield an unjust result, and you may find the defendant not guilty." Approved by full House 2/15/17.
New Hampshire HB 311 Expands existing judicial performance evaluation program to include all court employees. Rejected by House Judiciary Committee 2/15/17.
North Dakota HB 1397 Provides executive branch agencies and the judicial branch may not submit legislative bills for introduction to the legislative assembly unless requested by committee. Approved as amended by House Judiciary Committee 2/15/17.
Oklahoma HB 1104 ORIGINAL: Allows elected officials to carry firearms into the courthouses of the county they serve in. AMENDED: Specifies elected official may not enter a courtroom armed. Approved as amended by House Public Safety Committee 2/16/17.
Virginia HB 1713 Provides that the Supreme Court and any other court clerk may provide online access to subscribers who have entered into an agreement with the clerk to have secure remote access to court records of nonconfidential criminal case information to confirm the complete date of birth of a defendant. House concurs with Senate amendments 2/13/17. To Governor for approval.
Utah SB 169 Requires a mayor of a city or town to fill the vacancy of a municipal justice court judge and, until the position is filled, allows the city or town to contract with another jurisdiction for judicial services. Requires a county appointing authority to fill the vacancy of a county justice court judge. Approved by full Senate 2/15/17.
Wyoming HB 59 Provides district court clerks subject to Ethics and Disclosure Act. Approved by full Senate 2/9/17.