Texas Judicial Council

Charge

Charge 1: Monitor implementation of the Texas Business Court.

Charge 2: Study the use of Artificial Intelligence in Texas Courts across the board—management, procedure, evidence, filings, security, etc.—and recommend any necessary reforms. (Joint Charge with Data Committee) 

Charge 3: Study ways to improve court efficiency and recommend any necessary reforms. (Joint Charge with the Criminal Justice Committee) 

Charge 4: Monitor the legislatively mandated study being conducted by the Office of Court Administration of the court personnel workload of the district and statutory county courts and make recommendations regarding any increased need for additional court staff. (Joint Charge with Public Trust and Confidence and Criminal Justice Committees)

Charge 5: Study ways to simplify the jurisdiction of the courts of Texas and to make jurisdiction uniform by court level and across the State. 

Charge 6: Study whether extending judicial terms from 4 to 6 years for trial courts and from 6 to 8 years for appellate courts would materially improve the courts’ ability to discharge their judicial function, would provide greater stability in the judiciary, and would allow greater participation by voters because of the decrease in the number of judicial positions up for election at any given time. (Joint Charge with the Criminal Justice and Public Trust and Confidence Committees) 

Charge 7: Continue to study the landscape of the Texas Civil Justice System and recommend any other necessary or desirable reforms to improve access to justice in Texas Courts.

Members

Hon. Emily Miskel, Chair
Ms. Zina Bash
Mr. Kevin Bryant
Hon. Jenn Caughey
Hon. Jon Gimble
Hon. Claudia Laird
Representative Jeff Leach
Hon. Valencia Nash
Ms. Rachel Racz
Senator Judith Zaffirini

Meetings

April 1, 2024