Past Committees

Texas Judicial Council

Committee on Juvenile Justice (2004 - 2006)

Charge:

Examine and make recommendations regarding the admissibility and verification of video magistrations made pursuant to Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. Study and make recommendations about juvenile justice as it related to the public school system including failure to attend school and violations of standards of student conduct. Examine how that conduct may be related to criminal offenses and make appropriate recommendations that may include communication and training initiatives as well as changes in statute.

Members:

Judge Allen Gilbert (Chair); Ms. Willie Jean Birmingham; Judge Melissa Goodwin; Representative Will Hartnett; Judge Glenn Phillips; and Judge Sharolyn Wood.

Advisory Members:

Mr. Bill Graves (Superintendent, Elgin Independent School District) and Mr. Brady Gilbert (Teacher, San Angelo Independent School District)

Meetings:

March 29, 2006 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
November 17, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Court Security (2005 - 2006)

Charge:

Examine, analyze, and make recommendations to the Council regarding court security and safety in Texas' state courts. Recognizing the necessity of providing safe and secure access to Texas' judicial system, the Committee will develop meaningful strategies and procedures to protect litigants, judges, court personnel, and the general public in courtrooms and courthouses across the State of Texas. The Committee will evaluate state and local security measures, assess local plans and practices, consider unique attributes and safety needs, and identify appropriate state and federal resources for the implementation of effective court security solutions. The Committee will also recommend safeguards for the personal security of court officials and their families.

Members:

Ms. Delia Martinez Carian (Chair); Judge Melissa Goodwin; Judge Sharon Keller; Judge Kelly Moore

Advisory Members:

Mr. Demetrius Bivins (Associate Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security); Chief Ray Coffman (Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety); Judge Diane Dockery (Child Support Associate Judge, Wichita Falls); Judge Rob Hofmann (Child Protection Associate Judge, Mason); Sheriff J.B. Smith (Smith County); Representative Sylvester Turner (Houston); Senator Jeff Wentworth (San Antonio)

Meetings:

October 26, 2005 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Statutory County Courts (2005 - 2006)

Charge:

Examine, study and make recommendations regarding the jurisdiction of Texas' statutory county courts at law. The Committee will focus on developing recommendations that provide for uniform jurisdiction of all statutory county courts and will consider the potential impact of any jurisdictional changes on the caseload of both district and county courts. To ensure judicial efficiency, quality, and consistency among the statutory county courts at law, the Committee will assess existing judicial resources, identify the need for additional resources, determine fair and adequate compensation for statutory county court at law judges, and make appropriate recommendations for change."

Members:

Chief Justice Linda Thomas (chair); Deacon Jose Luis Lopez; Judge Orlinda Naranjo; Judge Polly Jackson Spencer; Judge Sharolyn Wood,Judge Kelly Moore

Advisory Members:

Judge Thomas H. Bacus (County Court at Law in Wichita Falls); Judge Rusty Ladd (County Court at Law in Lubbock); Judge Penny Roberts (County Court at Law in San Angelo); Judge Carlos Villa (County Court at Law in El Paso); Judge Alfonso Charles (County Court at Law in Longview)

Meetings:

March 24, 2006 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
December 7, 2005 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
February 23, 2005 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
February 2, 2005 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Judicial Data Management (2001 - 2011)

Charge:

Provide assistance and guidance to the Office of Court Administration regarding the revision of the current reporting system for the trial courts to simplify reporting, improve data collection and compliance, and streamline the annual report of the Texas judicial system.

Members:

Judge Glenn Phillips as chair
Judge Russell Casey
Judge Monica Gonzalez

Advisory Members:

Judge Lamar McCorkle (133rd Judicial District, Harris)
Judge Olen Underwood (Presiding Judge of the 2nd Administrative Judicial Region);
Ms. Bonnie Wolbrueck (Former District Clerk, Williamson)
Judge Valencia Nash ( Justice of the Peace Pct. 1, Place 2, Dallas)

Meetings:

February 4, 2009 [ Notes ]

November 19, 2008 [ Notes ]

October 19, 2007 [ Notes ]

May 1, 2007 [ Notes ]

June 10, 2002 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Judicial Compensation (2005 - 2006)

Charge:

In recognition of the need to protect judicial independence and to attract and retain a judiciary of exceptional quality and diversity, but mindful that members of the judiciary are voluntarily performing a public service and willingly forego levels of compensation offered in the private sector, the Committee will examine, study, and make recommendations to the Council regarding adequate and fair compensation for Texas' judicial officers. The Committee will compare Texas' judicial compensation levels with the federal judiciary, other states and other comparable professions. The Committee will determine whether appropriate escalators, standards, or measures should be enacted for periodic adjustments, and will evaluate the feasibility and impact of a special committee or commission to consider biennial judicial salary recommendations to the Texas Legislature. In addition to reviewing base salaries, the Committee will consider other forms of judicial compensation paid by the state or local governments including salary supplements, insurance benefits, longevity pay, and retirement benefits. The Committee will also review any statutory links to Texas' judicial salaries and make appropriate recommendations for change. The Committee will submit its final recommendations to the Council by September 1, 2006.

Members:

Chief Justice Sherry Radack (Chair); Chief Justice Linda Thomas

Advisory Members:

Judge Rusty Ladd (County Court at Law in Lubbock); Judge Lamar McCorkle (133rd Judicial District in Houston); Judge Dean Rucker (318th Judicial District in Midland and Presiding Judge of the 7th Administrative Judicial Region)

Meetings:

January 10, 2006 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Public Access to Court Records (2003 - 2004)

Charge:

Examine, analyze, and make recommendations to the Council regarding the public's access to court case records. Due to technological advances such as the electronic filing of court documents, case files are becoming easier to access and can be “broadcast” through the Internet. Given the constitutional underpinnings of both courts and privacy, the Committee must develop a comprehensive statewide policy that balances the important interests of public access, personal privacy, public safety, and the integrity of the judicial process.

Members:

Judge Polly Jackson Spencer (chair), Mr. Charles Bacarisse, Mr. Lance Byrd, Ms. Wanda Garner Cash, Senator Robert Duncan, Mr. David Gavin, Judge Allen Gilbert, Judge Melissa Goodwin, Representative Will Hartnett, Ms. Ann Manning, Judge Orlinda Naranjo, Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips, Chief Justice Sherry Radack, Dr. Tony Reese, Dr. Dianne Wilson, Judge Sharolyn Wood, and Dr. Ernie Young

Meetings:

December 11, 2003 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
February 25, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
April 27, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
May 13, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
June 16, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
July 13, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Prosecutors in the JP and Municipal Courts (2001 - 2004)

Charge:

Identify, study, and make recommendations regarding those municipal and justice of the peace courts that do not have a prosecutor. The committee will address the economic factors associated with any recommendations.

Members:

Judge Glen Phillips (chair), Judge Melissa Goodwin, Judge Allen Gilbert, and Judge Orlinda Naranjo

Meetings:

February 25, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
April 27, 2004 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Judicial Training (2001 - 2002)

Charge:

Study and make recommendations regarding the need for judicial education and training of associate judges, magistrates, and juvenile referees. The committee will identify and make recommendations regarding the economic factors associated with any recommended program.

Members:

Justice Ann McClure, Judge Sharon Keller, and Judge Dean Rucker

Meetings:

November 7, 2002 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Committee on Juries II (2001 - 2002)

Charge:

Conduct a study to examine jury service in each county of this state; collect and examine information relating to reimbursement of expenses for jurors and other incentives for jury service; collect and examine demographic and statistical information from each county relating to the county's prospective jurors and each person who has been summoned for jury service, has appeared for jury service, and has served as a juror. Work with each county and the National Center for State Courts in meeting this charge.

Members:

Senator Robert Duncan (chair), Ms. Delia Martinez Carian, Deacon Jose Luis Lopez, Ms. Ann Manning, Judge Jim Parsons, and Judge Mike Wood

Meetings:

September 6, 2002 [ Agenda | Minutes ]
September 17,2002 [ Agenda | Minutes ]

Legislative Committee (2008 - 2011)

Charge:

Develop and consider recommendations for legislation to improve the operation of the judicial system.

Members:

Judge Linda Thomas, Chair
Judge Kelly Moore
Judge F. Alfonso Charles
Judge Polly Spencer
Judge Monica A. Gonzalez

Advisory Members:

No formal Advisory Members

Meetings:

October 31, 2008 [ Agenda ] [ Minutes ]
Materials: [ Resolutions ] [ Legislative Tracking ]

August 7, 2008 [ Agenda ] [ Minutes ]
Materials: Proposed Resolutions | Legislation Tracking for Resolutions for the 81st Legislature

May 23, 2008 [Agenda] [ Minutes ]
Legislative Committee Process and Subject Matter Workgroups [pdf]
Legislative Committee Workgroups Matched to Relevant Interim Charges to House and Senate Committees [pdf]

March 7, 2008

Legislative Tracking:

Chart [pdf] - 11/07/08
Resolutions [pdf] - 11/07/08

Descriptive Information Currently Unavailable

• Committee on District Courts (2001 - 2002)
• Committee on Appellate Court Performance Measures
• Committee on Appellate Court Funding (2001 - 2002)
• Committee on Juries I (2000)
• Committee on Campaign Finance (2000 - 2001)
• Committee on Judicial Performance Measures (1999 - 2000)
• Committee on District Court Performance Measures (1999 - 2000)
• Committee on Law Clerk Recruitment (1998 - 2000)
• Committee on Media in the Courts (1999 - 2000)
• Committee on Trial Court Organization (1998 - 1999)
• Committee on Strategic Planning (1998)
• Committee on Juvenile Justice I (1998)
• Committee on Court Records (1998)
• Committee on Visiting Judges (1998)
• Committee on Redistricting (1998)
• Committee on Judicial Selection (1998)
• Committee on Judicial Efficiency (1996)
• Committee on Appellate Records (1996)

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Updated: 30-Aug-2011