MINUTES 
          
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                          Thursday, September 10, 1998 
                                    10:00 am 
                         Texas Tech Law School, Lubbock 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Jurisprudence was held on Thursday, September 10, 1998 at the  
         Texas Tech Law School, at Lubbock, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Robert Duncan                   Senator David Cain 
                                                 Senator Gregory Luna 
                                                 Senator Steve Ogden 
                                                 Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 am.  The  
         following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         Dean W. Frank Newton, Texas Tech Law School, testified on  
         recommendations by the Supreme Court Jury Task Force. 
         The Honorable Sharon Keller, Court of Criminal Appeals,  
         testified on recommendations by the Supreme Court Jury Task  
         Force. 
         John Cornyn, representing himself, testified on  
         recommendations by the Supreme Court Jury Task Force. 
         Susan Fortney, Texas Tech Law School, testified on  
         recommendations by the Supreme Court Jury Task Force. 
          
         The Honorable Cindy Groomer, representing the County and  
         District Clerks Association, testified on jury pooling. 
         Paula Sweeny, representing the Texas Trial Lawyers  
         Association, testified on jury pooling. 
         Thomas C. Riney, representing the Texas Association of Defense  
         Counsel, testified on jury pooling. 
          
         At 11:15 Senator Duncan assumed the chair. 
          
         Linda Bierman Davis, Tarrant County jury administrator,  
         testified on jury pooling. 
          
         At 11:20 Senator Ellis resumed the chair. 
          
         Dennis Reeves, representing the Lubbock Criminal Defense  
         Lawyers Association, testified on jury pooling. 
         The Honorable Bill Sowder, Lubbock County District Attorney,  
         testified on jury pooling. 
         Michael Dinapoli, representing State Municipal Services,  
         testified on jury pooling. 
          
         The Honorable J. Blair Cherry, Jr., 72nd District Court,  
         testified on juror participation. 
         Paula Sweeny, representing the Texas Trial Lawyers  
         Association, testified on juror participation. 
         Russell Serafin, representing the Texas Association of Defense  
         Counsel, testified on juror participation. 
         Bill Wischkaemper, representing himself, testified on juror  
         participation. 
         The Honorable Becky McPherson, 110th District Attorney,  
         testified on juror participation. 
         The Honorable Scott Brister, 234th District Court, testified  
         on juror participation. 
          
         The Honorable J. Blair Cherry, Jr., 72nd District Court,  
         testified on cameras in the courtroom. 
         Thomas C. Riney, representing the Texas Association of Defense  
         Counsel, testified on cameras in the courtroom. 
         Bill Wischkaemper, representing himself, testified on cameras  
         in the courtroom. 
          
         Denise Davis, representing the Texas Judicial Council,  
         testified regarding judicial districting and the American Bar  
         Association recommendations on judicial campaign financing. 
          
         Richard Haskell, representing himself, testified on the  
         Supreme Court Jury Task Force. 
          
         Dave Walker, representing KCBD-TV (Lubbock), testified  
         regarding cameras in the courtroom. 
          
         Earl S. Nesbitt, representing Settlement Capital Corporation,  
         testified regarding structured settlements. 
          
         Chip Jones, representing Colonial Financial Services,  
         testified regarding structured settlements. 
          
         David C. Sharp, representing Texas Daily Newspaper  
         Association, testified regarding cameras in the courtroom. 
         The Honorable Al Schorre, Midland County District Attorney,  
         testified regarding cameras in the courtroom. 
          
         Michael Schneider, representing Texas Association of  
         Broadcasters, testified regarding cameras in the courtroom. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:45 pm Senator Ellis  
  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Rick Svatora, Clerk