H.B. 1298 Summary

• Changes the intermediate appellate court from a chief judge and 5 associate judges to a chief judge and 4 associate judges

• Removes numbered designations (first, second, third judge, etc.) for circuit court and district court judges, instead styling all judges in a circuit simply as "judges of the circuit court" or "judges of the district court"

• Increases district court judges in the second circuit from 3 to 4 judges and in the fifth circuit from 2 to 3 judges

• Removes the Supreme Court's authority to summarily remove district family judges from office based on public good or reduced caseload

• Clarifies that the Supreme Court may establish district family courts (rather than stating they "may be established") in each judicial circuit