MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

11:00 a.m.

San Antonio City Council Chamber

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, in the San Antonio City Council Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Chris Harris		Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator John Carona Senator Robert Duncan Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Kirk Watson

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

Louis E. Rowe, San Antonio City Councilman, gave opening remarks.

 

The Chair laid out Interim Charge Six:  Study practices intended to 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.  

 

Witnesses are shown on the attached list.

 

The Chair announced that the next meeting will be held on September 17th in the Hunt Court Room at Texas Tech Law School in Lubbock, Texas. 

 

There being no further business, at 12:05 p.m. the Committee recessed subject to the call of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk