Article
The Senate Jurisprudence Committee met at the Capitol recently to discuss one of the committee's Interim Charges: to study and make recommendations for improving the structure of the state's trial court system. The Committee Chairman, Senator Royce West of Dallas, stated that this subject of judicial reapportionment is a critical issue and has been for many years. Interim Charge #4 calls for:
* changes including the improving the quality, cost-effectiveness, and uniformity of the visiting judge program;
* devising criteria to be used by the next Legislature to determine when and where additional trial courts should be created;
* and clarifying jurisdictional conflicts between courts.
At this hearing, testimony was heard from Chief Justice Tom Phillips of the Texas Supreme Court. The hearing included a series of panels of judges, with each panel addressing the charge. County Judges and several panels of non-judges were also involved in the Committee hearing.
In regard to the visiting judge program, it was stated that the pressure of heavy dockets and judicial vacancies are two reasons that courts look for help from visiting judges. It was reported that with 25% of the state's judicial budget going to the visiting judge program, visiting judges are not pleased with earning only approximately 85% of what a normal trial court judge earns. They earn even less in rural areas. The visiting judge program was both praised and criticized and several suggestions were offered to the Committee for consideration to improve this program.
Several County Judges testified that the Committee should stress further utilization of constitutional county courts to free jurisdictional conflicts between courts. The constitutional county courts generally hear the probate cases filed in the county. They have original jurisdiction over all Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases, which are the more serious minor offenses. The County Judges stated that, in their opinion, the Committee should support the creation of additional district courts.
The Committee will compile a final report by November 15, 2002. This date will allow the findings of the Committee to be considered when the Legislative Budget Board is developing budget recommendations to the 78th Legislature which convenes January 14, 2003.
State Representative Ron Clark
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
(903) 893-9426 * (512) 463-0474
(512) 475-3767 (fax)
ron.clark@house.state.tx.us
http://www.grayson.edu/district62/RonClark.html