Legislatures Coming Into Session
North Carolina 5/16
Legislatures Going Out of Session
Alabama 5/16 (30th legislative day)
Floor/Committee Activity of Note
May 14
May 15
Louisiana Senate Judiciary B Committee
HB 325 Increases the special cost assessed in criminal cases in each judicial district court for the district indigent defender fund. Approved by full House 4/30/12.
May 16
CACR 26 (Constitutional Amendment) AS APPROVED BY HOUSE: Repeals constitutional provision authorizing the chief justice of the supreme court to make rules governing the administration of all the courts. AS AMENDED BY SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Provides “The legislature shall have a concurrent power to regulate the same matters by statute. In the event of a conflict between a statute and a court rule, the statute, if not otherwise contrary to this constitution, shall prevail over the rule.” Approved as amended by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/8/12.
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”. Rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/8/12.
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. Rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/8/12.
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. Recommended for referral to interim study by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/8/12.
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. Recommended for referral to interim study by Senate Judiciary Committee 5/8/12.
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 Senate Judiciary Committee 5/11/12.
May 17
May 18
New Jersey Legislative Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission
AB 168 Increases statutory mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices, Superior Court Judges, Tax Court Judges, Administrative Law Judges, Workers’ Compensation Judges and County Prosecutors from 70 to 75. Would require additional constitutional amendment with respect to judges/justices.
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