SRC-AAA S.B. 878 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 878
By: Sibley
Jurisprudence
3-13-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, litigants play a role in selecting the specific court in which
their cases will be filed, in counties that do not have random docket
assignments.  This permits an unequal distribution of the civil trial
workload among district courts with civil jurisdiction.  This bill
mandates random docket assignments with an exception for criminal cases. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 878 mandates random docket assignments with an exception
for criminal cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 24A, Government Code, by adding Section 24.022,
as follows: 

Sec. 24.022. ASSIGNMENT OF CASES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.  Requires a district
clerk in a county with four or more district courts to assign and docket
all cases on a rotating basis, except as provided by Subchapters D and E,
and notwithstanding any other law. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 24.139(d), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 144th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 226th, 227th, 289th, and
290th district courts preference to criminal cases. Makes a nonsubstantive
change. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 24.205(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 103rd Judicial District preference to civil cases. 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 24.207(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 105th Judicial District preference to criminal cases. 

SECTION 5. Amends Section 24.209(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 107th Judicial District preference to criminal cases.

SECTION 6. Amends Section 24.240(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 138th Judicial District preference to criminal cases. 

SECTION 7. Amends Section 24.248(a), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving the 147th 
Judicial District preference to criminal cases.

SECTION 8. Amends Section 24.386(b), Government Code, to delete a
provision giving preferences to criminal cases in Caldwell, Comal, and
Hays Counties. 

SECTION 9.  Repealer: Sections 24.139(f), 24.139(k), 24.139(l), 24.175(c),
24.353(b), 24.362(b), 24.363(b), 24.364(b), 24.365(b), 24.366(b),
24.373(b), 24.374(b), 24.376(b), 24.382(b), 24.383(b), 24.384(b),
24.387(b), 24.388(b), 24.393(b), 24.394(b), 24.402(b), 24.403(b),
24.404(b), 24.405(b), 24.406(b), 24.407(b), 24.408(b), 24.409(b),
24.410(b), 24.422(b), 24.423(b), 24.424(b), 24.425(b),  24.429(b),
24.431(b), 24.432(b), 24.433(b), 24.434(b), 24.439(b), 24.440(b),
24.442(b), 24.456(b), 24.459(b), 24.460(b), 24.462(b), 24.465(b),
24.466(b), 24.467(b), 24.468(b), 24.469(b), 24.472(b), 24.474(b),
24.475(b), 24.479(b), 24.480(b), 24.483(b), 24.484(b), 24.485(b),
24.488(b), 24.491(b), 24.494(b), 24.497(b), 24.498(b), 24.508(b),
24.516(b), 24.517(b), and 24.522(b), Government Code (Regarding certain
judicial districts). 
    
SECTION 10. Emergency clause
  Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.