Allan F. Ramsaur, TBA Executive Director
(800) 899-6993 or (615) 277-3200
aramsaur@tnbar.org
May 22, 2003
Compromise will likely save Judicial Council
Time is running out on the 103rd session of the General Assembly, but not for the Tennessee Judicial Council.
Thanks to the hard work of several legislators, it appears that a compromise will permit the council to stay in business and avoid extinction under Sunset rules. Legislation that will enable its continuation (HB1520, SB1480) passed out of the Senate Government Operations Committee 7-0 on Wednesday after the introduction of an amendment that proposes several changes in the way it works. The bill is slated for hearing in the House Government Operations Committee on Tuesday and could go to both houses for a vote before next weekend.
A number of legislators were involved in the negotiations to save the council, which provides objective analysis of legislation related to the administration of justice. Among those helping forge a compromise were House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, Government Operations Committee chairs Rep. Mike Kernell and Sen. Thelma Harper and Judiciary Committee chairs Rep. Joe Fowlkes and Sen. Curtis Person. Legislators who were early opponents of the legislation, also played a part, being willing to work for a compromise after making their concerns known.
The legislation, as amended, calls for several changes, including: the requirement that all appointing authorities consider diversity of geography, race, gender and ethnicity in making appointments; the requirement that members cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms; the requirement that the council will only review legislation referred to it by standing committee chairs or by the prime sponsor of the legislation; the requirement that the council provide detailed analysis of the effects the legislation would have on the administration of justice, but would not offer advice on whether the bill should or should not be passed.
Action on the bill by the Senate and the House will likely come next week, because both bodies are racing toward adjournment. There is very serious talk that the General Assembly may finish its business by the end of next week. Both houses will take off Monday for Memorial Day, and come back in session on Tuesday. Adjournment could come as early as Thursday.
Senate recognizes Mock Trial winners
The Senate today (Thursday) recognized the Chattanooga mock trial team with a joint resolution praising their accomplishment in earning a second national championship during the recent competition in New Orleans.
Sen. David Fowler, R-Signal Mountain, drafted the resolution (SJR0437), which recognized members of the Family Christian Academy Mock Trial team for setting "a precedent as the first team to repeat as national champions in consecutive years." The team qualified for national competition by winning the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Championships, which is sponsored by the TBA's Young Lawyers Division.
Team members Tyler Randolf, Beth Coleman, Joshua Downer, Amber Gruber, Matthew Downer and Anna Downer joined Fowler, coaches Jeffrey Atherton and Matthew Hargraves and TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur in the Senate Chambers to receive the honor. You can read more about the team and see a photo from the ceremony on TBALink at http://www.tba.org/news/mocktrial2003nationalchamp.html
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Questions, comments? Contact TBA Legislative Counsel Steve Cobb at SAC@wallerlaw.com or TBA Executive Director Allan F. Ramsaur at aramsaur@tnbar.org
