SB235 (District Ct. bill) receives recommendation from House Judiciary

The bill enacting a pilot program for full-time District Court judges (SB235) received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary committee this morning after some valid points made by Rep. Pate on the issue of Public Defenders and how their program will be changed by city courts being assumed under the District Court system. Here is a previous analysis of this bill.

I'll present it to the full House tomorrow (Wednesday). I am expecting some opposition, mainly on the issue of county-wide elections for district court judges. This concern seems to be primarily confined to Benton County at the moment.