Section 476.415

Title XXXII COURTS

Chapter 476

Effective - 28 Aug 2009, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  476.415.  Commission on judicial resources, established — members, terms — access to reports, when — staff allowed, assistance rendered, when. — 1. There is hereby created a "Commission on Judicial Resources", to be comprised of the following persons:

  (1) A circuit court judge elected by the circuit court judges of the state;

  (2) A judge of the court of appeals elected by the judges of the court of appeals of the state;

  (3) An associate circuit judge elected by the associate circuit judges of the state;

  (4) A senior judge under the provisions of section 476.001 appointed by the supreme court;

  (5) An attorney appointed by the board of governors of the Missouri Bar;

  (6) The chairman of the judiciary committee of the senate;

  (7) The chairman of the judiciary committee of the house of representatives;

  (8) A member of the appropriations committee of the senate, appointed by the president pro tem;

  (9) A member of the budget committee of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker;

  (10) The executive director of the public defender commission; and

  (11) One prosecuting or circuit attorney elected by the prosecuting and circuit attorneys of this state.

  2. The legislative members of the commission shall serve during the period they hold the committee assignments qualifying them for the office. The appointed and elective members shall serve for two years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in any of the appointed or elected members, a successor shall be appointed or elected by the body originally appointing or electing the position for whom the vacancy occurs for the remainder of the unexpired term. The commission shall meet within sixty days after the appointment of the members at the call of the chief justice of the supreme court and shall meet subsequently at the call of the chairman. The commission shall elect its own officers as necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses paid out of appropriations made for that purpose except that senior judges shall be credited for time actually spent in the performance of duties according to section 476.682.

  3. The commission shall have full access to the reports filed pursuant to section 476.412, examine and prepare a digest of such reports, conduct a comprehensive study of the state's judicial system, assess the needs, priorities, workload, case management and general performance of the court system and for the judges thereof. The commission shall make an annual report to the supreme court and the general assembly before the convening of each session of the general assembly in which they shall detail the true state of the judicial system in this state, its success or inability to handle the caseload, and the efficiency of disposition of judicial business and the administration of justice. The report shall detail the utilization of judges transferred between circuits and of senior judges as provided in section 476.681, including an appraisal of the effect that the appointment of senior judges and transfer of judges has on the efficiency of the courts and the reduction of caseloads. The report shall include a detailed breakdown of the needs of specific courts and the commission's recommendations.

  4. The clerk of the supreme court shall provide suitable staff for the commission out of any funds appropriated for this purpose. The commission may seek and receive gifts, donations and grants in aid from private or other sources to defray expenses incurred in its assessment of judicial resources.

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(L. 1989 S.B. 439 § 4, A.L. 1999 S.B. 1, et al., A.L. 2009 H.B. 481)