Magistrates; reforms system by transferring appointment and supervisory responsibilities. (SB244)
Introduced By
Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) with support from co-patrons Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke), Sen. Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), and Sen. Roscoe Reynolds (D-Martinsville)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Magistrates. Reforms the magistrate system by transferring appointment and supervisory responsibilities from the circuit court judges to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court. The bill requires certain minimum educational requirements for magistrates and also broadens magistrates' geographical assignment from within a particular judicial district to regions established by the Executive Secretary. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Passed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/08/2008 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/08 081724866 |
| 01/08/2008 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/21/2008 | Impact statement from DPB (SB244) |
| 01/25/2008 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal |
| 01/30/2008 | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (14-Y 1-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/30/2008 | Rereferred to Finance |
| 02/05/2008 | Reported from Finance (12-Y 1-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
| 02/06/2008 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/07/2008 | Read second time |
| 02/07/2008 | Reading of amendments waived |
| 02/07/2008 | Committee amendments agreed to |
| 02/07/2008 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB244E |
| 02/07/2008 | Printed as engrossed 081724866-E |
| 02/08/2008 | Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 11-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
| 02/08/2008 | Communicated to House |
| 02/13/2008 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/13/2008 | Read first time |
| 02/13/2008 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 02/14/2008 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal |
| 02/15/2008 | Impact statement from DPB (SB244E) |
| 02/27/2008 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (11-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/27/2008 | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (11-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/29/2008 | Read second time |
| 03/03/2008 | Read third time |
| 03/03/2008 | Committee amendment agreed to |
| 03/03/2008 | Engrossed by House as amended |
| 03/03/2008 | Passed House with amendment (87-Y 13-N) |
| 03/03/2008 | VOTE: --- PASSAGE (87-Y 13-N) |
| 03/05/2008 | House amendment agreed to by Senate (37-Y 3-N) |
| 03/08/2008 | Enrolled |
| 03/08/2008 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB244ER) |
| 03/08/2008 | Signed by Speaker |
| 03/11/2008 | Signed by President |
| 03/12/2008 | Signed by Speaker |
| 03/12/2008 | Signed by President |
| 03/27/2008 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 691 (effective 7/1/08) |
| 04/01/2008 | Impact statement from DPB (SB244ER) |
Comments
THIS IS A GOOD REFORM ALL THE WAY UP TO REGIONAL AUTHORITY. AUTHORITY SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE COMMONWEALTH.
Please table a portion of this bill. Magistrate refrom needs legislative study before implemented. Very costly proposal in a budget-shortfall year. Also, demoralizing to incumbent magistrates who are hard working 24/7 state employees.
Since this is a Judicial appointment, then I feel that either the entire Supreme Court or at least the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should make the appointment(s). The Office of the Executive Secretary is not a judicial body, they are the administrative arm of the court. The actual appointment of a judicial officer should be made by a Judicial body or Judicial Officer.
This bill creates a new layer of government and will be costly over the next 10 years. A sleeker and fairer reorganization is possible. The plan has too many flaws and would not serve the courts or the Commonwealth very well.
This bill is deeply flawed. It creates a new layer of government and is overly ambitious. It requires things of magistrates, not required of judges. Had a large, representative group of magistrates been invited to the table we could have improved this bill considerably.It should be tabled until it can be improved.