RESOLUTION SUMMARY
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 30
RELATING TO:Establishing a unified family court
CODE REFERENCE: Art.8, Sec. 16 (new) of the Constitution
ATTORNEY:Dennise Smith
The joint resolution would permit the Legislature to establish
a system of unified family courts throughout the state to replace
the current family law master system. Their jurisdiction would be
determined by the Legislature, as would the number of judges,
number of circuits and arrangement of circuits.
Family court judges would be elected and serve a term not to
exceed eight years. Judges must reside in the circuit for which
they are elected and be admitted to practice law in this state for
five years prior to their election.
The supreme court of appeals would supervise the business of
family courts and would be permitted to re-assign family court
judges for temporary service.
EFFECTIVE DATE:Upon ratification of the voters
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DATE OF PASSAGE:March 13, 1999
ACTION BY GOVERNOR: