CS/HJR 7111 Summary

• Eliminates the two-thirds vote requirement for the legislature to repeal court rules, changing it to a simple majority vote that must express the policy behind the repeal; prohibits the Supreme Court from readopting a repealed rule without legislative approval if the legislature repeals it a second time.

• Requires Senate confirmation of Supreme Court justice appointments before they take office; if the Senate fails to vote within 90 days, the appointee is deemed confirmed; rejected nominees cannot be renominated for the same vacancy.

• Mandates the Judicial Qualifications Commission make all files available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives; such files remain confidential until impeachment proceedings are initiated.

• Removes the Governor's authority to request Judicial Qualifications Commission files and limits the authority to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

• Makes technical and modernizing changes to Article V of the State Constitution regarding judicial administration, chief judge selection, and the composition of judicial nominating commissions.