Joint Interim Committee to Study the Statutory Probate  
         System 
         75th Legislature 
         July 16, 1998 
         1:00 pm  
         City Council Chambers  Corpus Christi,  Texas 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on July 2, 1998, the Joint Interim  
         Committee to Study the Probate System met in a public hearing  
         and was called to order by the Co-Chair, Representative  
         Senfronia Thompson at 1:13 pm. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows:   
          
         Present:  Representatives Thompson;  Solis (2). 
          
         Absent:   Representative Hartnett (1). 
          
         Senator Wentworth, Senator Cain and Senator Ellis were absent. 
          
         The co-chair swore in all witnesses. 
          
         The co-chair recognized the following witnesses to testify  
         neutrally on the probate system of  Texas: 
               Judge Guy Herman, Travis County Probate Judge,  
         representing himself and the Statutory Probate Judges of  
         Texas; 
          
         Representative Hartnett now present. 
          
               Jerry Frank Jones, representing himself and the Real  
         Estate Section of the State Bar of  Texas; 
               Judge James Klager, Nueces County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and his profession; 
               Judge Jerri Lee Mills, Brazoria County Court at Law  
         Judge, representing herself and the Probate Courts of Brazoria  
         County; 
               Donna Kay McKinney, aide to Senator Wentworth,  
         representing Senator Wentworth to ask a question to Judge  
         Mills of Brazoria County; 
               Judge Jerri Lee Mills, Brazoria County Court at Law  
         Judge, for response to question; 
               Donna Kay McKinney, aide to Senator Wentworth, for  
         further questioning; 
               Judge Jerri Lee Mills, Brazoria County Court at Law  
         Judge, for response to question;  
               Judge Garvin Germany, Brazoria County Court of Law  
         Judge, representing himself and his profession; 
               M.L. Stewart, resource witness, representing the Texas  
         Legislative Council; 
               Judge Jerome Jones, Galveston County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and the Statutory Probate Judges; 
               Judge Robert Vargas, Nueces County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and his profession; 
               Judge Marisela Salda a, Nueces County Court at Law  
  
         Judge, representing herself and her  
         Joint Interim Committee to Study the Statutory Probate System 
         July 16, 1998 
          
         profession,  
               Judge Hector Pe a, Jr., Nueces County Court at Law  
         Judge, representing the Nueces County Court at Law, 
               Judge Marisela Salda a, Nueces County Court at Law  
         Judge, representing herself and her profession for further  
         testimony; 
               Judge James Klager, Nueces County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and his profession for further testimony; 
               Judge Marisela Salda a, Nueces County Court at Law  
         Judge, representing herself and her profession for further  
         testimony; 
               Judge James Klager, Nueces County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and his profession for further testimony; 
               Judge Jerri Lee Mills, Brazoria County Court at Law  
         Judge, representing herself and her profession for further  
         testimony; 
               Judge James Klager, Nueces County Court at Law Judge,  
         representing himself and his profession for further testimony; 
               Donna Kay McKinney, aide to Senator Wentworth, to  
         discuss plans for  next meeting. 
          
         There being no further witnesses or business, the co-chair  
         moved that the Joint Interim Committee to Study the Probate  
         System stand adjourned. 
          
         There being no objection, the Joint Interim Committee  
         adjourned at 3:21 pm. 
          
                                       _________________________________ 
                                       _____ 
                                       Senfronia Thompson, Co-Chair 
          
         _______________________________ 
         Milda Mora, Committee Clerk