Subcommittee adopts amendment to convert at-large circuit judgeships into resident seats

The Constitutional Law Subcommittee voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to H.4160 that would convert multiple at-large circuit court judgeships into resident seats, committee members said. The amendment expands an earlier proposal and, if enacted, would reduce the number of at-large judgeships from 16 to six.

The change was requested by Chief Justice Kittridge and presented to the panel by Ms. Turner, who spoke on his behalf. Turner told the committee the chief’s recommendation uses a needs-based approach — including court filings and population growth — and aims to improve geographic diversity and address “legal deserts,” areas with very few practicing lawyers. “It is on a needs based criteria that the Chief Justice is proposing that these seats be converted into resident…