March 22, 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
- Georgia House approves bill to limit access and publication of information regarding judges and their families; Senate had previously approved a similar bill.
- Selection
- South Carolina Senate approves plan to replace the state's Judicial Merit Selection Commission; the new commission would include members appointed by the Governor, would be required to state in writing why certain candidates were not found to be qualified, and provide up to six names for judicial vacancies (currently limited to 3 names).
- Structure Changes
- Georgia Senate approves plan to create a statewide Tax Court within the judiciary; would become state's 8th trial court type (others are Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate, Municipal, and State-wide Business); and
- Michigan law now authorizes state’s circuit courts to create family treatment courts.
- Other
- South Carolina House approves bill that repeals the requirement that circuit court judges be granted written leave by the Chief Justice or presiding associate justice if they wish toleave the state; and
- Tennessee House Committee approves bill that directs the administrative office of the courts to define and develop a centralized system of case management, document management, electronic case filing, electronic payment methods, data reporting, and any other capability deemed necessary for collection and reporting of all state and local court public case level data.