(Constitutional Amendment) Provides that the supreme court shall be composed of nine justices (Item #4) (OR +$1,145,641 GF EX See Note)
Impact
The proposed amendment would have significant implications for Louisiana's judicial system. By expanding the number of justices, the bill could lead to more diverse perspectives in judicial rulings and potentially improve the efficiency of court operations as more justices would alleviate individual workloads. Additionally, the modification of the number of required concurring votes for judgment has the potential to influence the court's decision-making process, encouraging broader consensus on rulings and possibly reducing instances of sharply divided opinions.
Summary
House Bill 1 proposes a constitutional amendment aimed at altering the structure of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Specifically, the bill seeks to increase the number of associate justices from six to eight, thus changing the composition of the court from a chief justice and six associates to a chief justice and eight associates. Furthermore, the bill would require a majority concurrence of five justices—up from four—for the court to render judgments. This structural change aims to ensure a more deliberative decision-making process and could potentially enhance the court's functionality by distributing the responsibilities across a broader group of justices.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding HB 1 appears to be mixed, reflecting both support and opposition. Proponents argue that the changes will strengthen the supreme court by fostering greater collaboration and reducing the risk of partisan splits among justices. This could lead to more unified legal interpretations that benefit the public. On the other hand, critics may view the expansion of the court and the increase in required concurrences as unnecessary adjustments that could complicate court operations or lead to excessive deliberation, potentially delaying judicial outcomes.
Contention
Debates on HB 1 would likely center around the efficacy and necessity of increasing the number of justices and changing the voting thresholds. Some may argue that the current structure is sufficient and that these changes could waste resources or create bureaucratic challenges within the court. Others posit that a larger and potentially more representative court would better serve the needs of Louisiana citizens, given the diverse legal challenges facing the state. The bill is set to be submitted for a public vote in the statewide election scheduled for November 5, 2024.
Constitutional amendment to provide for statewide districts and election of the chief justice for the Louisiana Supreme Court. (2/3 - CA13s1(A)) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Constitutional amendment to increase the non-lawyer membership of and provide for the selection judiciary commission members and to require investigations be conducted by directive of the supreme court. (2/3 - CA13s1(A)) (EN +$7,115 GF EX See Note)
(Constitutional Amendment) Provides that the timing and duration of regular sessions of the legislature may be set by joint rule of the legislature (OR +$1,288,800 GF EX See Note)
Proposes temporary constitutional amendment allowing State constitutional convention convened to reform system of property taxation to propose statutory changes.
Proposes temporary constitutional amendment allowing State constitutional convention convened to reform system of property taxation to propose statutory changes.