Relating to the creation of an appellate judicial system for the Eighth Court of Appeals District.
To finance this newly created appellate judicial system, the bill mandates that a court costs fee of $5 be imposed on each civil suit filed in specified courts in the counties. This fee, however, does exempt suits initiated by governmental entities or those pertaining to delinquent taxes. The revenues generated through this fee are to be collected by the court clerks and directed into a separate appellate judicial system fund that will be exclusively used for the operational needs of the appellate court, under the management of the chief justice of the court of appeals.
House Bill 713 proposes the establishment of an appellate judicial system specifically for the Eighth Court of Appeals District. Under this bill, the commissioners court of each county within the district is required to create an appellate judicial system that assists the court of appeals in the processing of appeals filed from various court levels within their jurisdictions, including county courts, statutory county courts, statutory probate courts, and district courts. This structured system aims to streamline appellate procedures and improve the judicial process for handling appeals, thereby enhancing overall efficiency in the legal system.
While HB 713 aims to enhance the appellate judicial process, it may raise concerns regarding additional costs imposed on litigants. Some stakeholders might view the new fee as an undue financial burden on individuals seeking justice, potentially discouraging appeals in civil matters. As local governments are responsible for managing the fund and the fee collection, there may also be implications regarding local administrative capabilities, transparency, and accountability in handling the appellate funds.