Bill > S609

Introduced Session

Under current law, each judge of a municipal court serves for a term of three years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. In municipalities governed by a mayor-council form of government, the municipal court judge is appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council. The judge of a joint municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. In all other municipalities, the municipal judge is appointed by the governing body of the municipality. In a county that has established a central municipal court, the judge of the central municipal court is nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This bill embodies Recommendation No. 32 of the Report of the Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Court Operations, Fines, and Fees, issued June 2018. According to the report, a longer term of appointment would result in a more experienced bench, provide further stability to the leadership of a municipal court, and represent a shared commitment from all branches of government to provide additional protection to judicial integrity and independence.

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Declan O'Scanlon (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 01/14/2020)