Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee

(a) Area of focus

The committee contributes to the statewide administration of justice by monitoring areas of significance to the justice system and making recommendations to the Judicial Council on policy issues affecting the trial courts.

(b) Additional duties

In addition to the duties specified in rule 10.34, the committee may:

(1) Recommend methods and policies within its area of focus to improve trial court presiding judges' access to and participation in council decision making, increase communication between the council and the trial courts, and provide for training programs for judicial and court support staff;

(2) Respond and provide input to the Judicial Council, appropriate advisory committees, or Judicial Council staff on pending policy proposals and offer new recommendations on policy initiatives in the areas of legislation, rules, forms, standards, studies, and recommendations concerning court administration; and

(3) Provide for liaison between the trial courts and the Judicial Council, its advisory committees, task forces, and working groups, and Judicial Council staff.

(c) Membership

The committee consists of the presiding judge of each superior court.

(d) Executive Committee

The advisory committee may establish an Executive Committee that, in addition to other powers provided by the advisory committee, may act on behalf of the full advisory committee between its meetings.

(e) Subcommittee membership

The committee has standing subcommittees on rules and legislation. The chair may create other subcommittees as he or she deems appropriate. The chair must strive for representation of courts of all sizes on subcommittees.

(f) Chair

The advisory committee must annually submit to the Chief Justice one nomination for the chair of the advisory committee. Any member of the advisory committee whose term as presiding judge would extend at least through the term of the advisory committee chair is eligible for nomination. The nomination must be made by a majority vote of the full advisory committee. In the event that no candidate receives a majority vote on the first ballot, subsequent ballots of the top two candidates will occur until a candidate receives a majority vote. The chair of the advisory committee serves as chair of any Executive Committee established under (d) and as an advisory member of the Judicial Council.