Court Administration Task Force
The Court Administration Task Force was assembled by the Litigation Section Council and the State Bar of Texas to address the 2007 Legislative Session’s Court Reorganization, Complex Courts and Jury Reform initiatives. All 2007 legislation was postponed pending further study by the CATF. The CATF is comprised of a broad-range of plaintiff, defense, judicial and public members. Their objective is to study and make recommendations for the 2009 Legislative Session for reform legislation that is in the best interests of the civil justice system and the citizen’s of Texas.
CATF Recommendations
On April 7th, the Court Administration Task (CATF) made initial recommendations regarding changes to:
- Appellate Courts (Supreme Court, Criminal Court and Courts of Appeal)
- Regional and Local Administrative Judges
- Arbitration Reform
- Jury Reform
The Initial CATF report can be reviewed here:
CATF April 7 Report
The CATF is also studying the potential conversion of County Courts at Law to District Courts. The initial recommendations can be reviewed here:
April 16 County Court Memo
CATF Proposed Legislation
Resource & Court Administration
Arbitration Reform
2009 Legislative Session
Anticipated Legislative Initiatives
At the current time, it appears as though the next legislature will examine the following topics that will have an impact on litigation in Texas:
• Examine the judicial system and make changes to the complex and overlapping jurisdictions of courts across Texas
• Enhance the jury experience and increase jury participation, including:
- allowing jurors to ask questions of witnesses by submitting them to the judge in writing
- allowing lawyers to periodically summarize testimony for the jury;
- allowing jurors to take notes during trial; and
- allowing jurors to discuss evidence among themselves during trial.
• Study and make recommendations relating to the jurisdiction, authority, power and discretion of probate judges in Texas, including the authority of a probate judge to intervene in a non-probate case.
• Suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving non¬parents, including suits for possession of or access to a child by a grandparent,
• Identify and study best practices for representation of children in child abuse and neglect cases and determine whether to implement further training, oversight, or other requirements for judges, attorneys, and others responsible for child abuse and neglect cases, including child sexual abuse cases
• Recommend changes to municipal sovereign immunity for damages to individualˇ¦s property.
2007 Legislative Session
80th Legislature, Regular Session - Sine Die Report by Zoe Taylor