AUSTIN - A bill recently introduced into the Texas Legislature seeks to increase the education requirements for newly elected judges and to also provide more information for voters about judicial candidates.
On Feb. 15, Rep. Jeff Leach, chair of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, introduced House Bill 2384, which relates to court administration, including the knowledge, efficiency, training, and transparency requirements for candidates for or holders of judicial offices.
HB 2384 is the top legislative priority this session for the Texas Civil Justice League.
“We believe that this legislation has the potential, over time, to do more to improve the administration of justice than any other proposal on this subject,” TCJL’s website states. “By creating a more robust and uniform standard for judicial training and education, HB 2384 will equally benefit the courts, the litigants, and all Texans who are entitled to the highest level of skill and competence from their judges.”
The bill would require a judicial candidate’s ballot application to include any public sanctions, courtroom experience, or any final conviction for a Class A or B misdemeanor in the past 10 years
HB 2384 would also direct the Texas Supreme Court to adopt rules on judicial training a judge must complete within one year of election to the bench.