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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Ind. Courts - Senate passes bill to abolish merit selection of judges in St. Joseph County [Updated]
HB 1491, which would abolish merit selection of judges in St. Joseph County, plus create a 6th panel for the Court of Appeals, passed the Senate this afternoon 35-15.
Here is the digest to the current version of the bill:
St. Joseph superior court judges. Requires the nonpartisan election of superior court judges in St. Joseph County. Continues the terms of the St. Joseph superior court judges in office on June 30, 2009, until the date the judges' terms will end under the law in effect on June 30, 2009. Provides that a judge or a candidate for judge of the Saint Joseph superior court may not accept certain political contributions. Repeals provisions concerning judicial retention elections in St. Joseph County. Establishes the Sixth District of the court of appeals of Indiana as of January 1, 2011. Provides that the entire state constitutes the Sixth District.What happens now? The bill goes back to the House, which can concur in the version adopted by the Senate, or dissent. In the latter case, the bill would then go to conference committee.
The Senate Roll Call, #381, which will list how each senator voted, isn't yet available. Check back.
Here is how the members of the House voted on the bill back on Feb. 12th. The vote then was 88 yeas, 3 nays, 5 excused, and 4 not voting.
[Updated at 3:29 PM] Here is the Senate rollcall.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 15, 2009 02:24 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts