MINUTES
         
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE
                            Monday, February 24, 1997
                                     1:30 pm
                  Capitol Building, Old Supreme Court Room 3N.3
         
                                      *****
         
         
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, an open meeting of the Senate Committee on 
         Jurisprudence was held on Monday, February 24, 1997 in the 
         Capitol Building, Old Supreme Court Room 3N.3 at Austin, 
         Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Gregory Luna
         Senator Chris Harris
         Senator David Cain
         Senator Robert Duncan
         Senator Steve Ogden
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         
                                      *****
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:40 pm.  There being 
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.  
         
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:  
         none.
         
         The Jurisprudence Committee met in a  special joint session 
         with the House Committee on Civil practices and the House 
         Committee on Judicial Affairs.
         
         Senator Ellis welcomed each Committee Chair and members.  The 
         Chair then welcomed all guests.  Senator Ellis introduced 
         Chief Justice Tom Phillips of the Supreme Court of Texas.  
         Chief Justice Phillips addressed the Joint Committees on the 
         State of the Judiciary.  A question and answer period 
         followed. Then Justice Phillips introduced Justice McCormick 
         from the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas to briefly address 
         the Joint Committees.
         
         There being no further business, at 2:35 pm Senator Ellis 
         moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it 
         was so ordered.  
         
         
         
         
 
         





         
         
         
         
         ______________________                       
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
         
         ______________________
         Helen Gonzalez, Clerk