Legislatures Going Out of Session
Tennessee (possible)
Floor/Committee Activity of Note
April 30
May 1
Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Judicial Reform
Possible votes on any matter referred to the committee, including:
HB 1848 Alters state court of appeals districts.
HJR 77 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends merit selection in state. Requires all judicial elections be partisan elections. Reduces supreme court terms from 12 to 8 years. Requires general assembly redistrict circuits after every census.
HJR 82 (Constitutional Amendment) Alters composition of the judicial Commission on Retirement, Removal, and Discipline. Adds one non-attorney and subtracts one attorney. Replaces seat for circuit court judge with supreme court justice.
May 2
May 3
New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee
1:00 p.m. CACR 26 (Constitutional Amendment) Repeals constitutional provision authorizing the chief justice of the supreme court to make rules governing the administration of all the courts. Approved by full House by 3/5ths vote 3/21/12.
1:30 p.m. HB 1131 ORIGINAL: Establishes a committee to study the revisions to laws which would be necessary if the supreme court and superior court were abolished as constitutional courts. AMENDED: Creates committee “to study methods of creating a balanced and neutral judiciary”. Approved as amended by full House 3/7/12.
1:45 p.m. HB 1422 ORIGINAL: Declares that no New Hampshire court shall enforce foreign law or a state law enforcing foreign law if such enforcement violates an individuals or corporations rights under the New Hampshire constitution or the United States Constitution. AS AMENDED: Provides unless the parties have previously agreed in writing to the contrary, no tribunal shall apply or enforce a foreign law or a state law or decision enforcing a foreign law, or base a determination in whole or in part on foreign law, if such application or enforcement would supersede or take precedence over any right, liberty, or privilege under the constitution of the state of New Hampshire, the laws or public policy of the state of New Hampshire, or the constitution of the United States. Approved by as amended by full House 2/22/12.
2:00 p.m. HB 1474 Prohibits requiring membership in any bar association or other professional organization as a condition for practicing law or for appointment to certain positions. Approved by full House 3/8/12.
2:15 p.m. HB 1722 ORIGINAL: Clarifies no judge or attorney may appear before one another if in newly created Circuit Court if they are professionally affiliated. AMENDED: Provides no attorney associated with a judge in the practice of law shall be permitted to practice in the division at the circuit court site in which the judge is assigned. Approved as amended by full House 3/7/12.
2:30 p.m. HB 1395 Declares unconstitutional and revokes supreme court rules amendments that would require attorneys to create or maintain a pooled interest-bearing trust account for clients funds nominal in amount or to be held for a short period of time, and to remit the interest earned thereby to the New Hampshire Bar Foundation. Approved by full House 3/28/12.
2:45 p.m. HB 1718 Requires courts give precedence over all other cases to challenges to electoral districts.
Possible votes on above legislation
May 4
