Senate courts committee approves large slate of judicial certifications, limits two retired judges to settlement conferences

The Joint Senate Courts of Justice Committee on an unspecified date approved a series of block votes to certify retired, circuit, general district and juvenile and domestic relations judges for continued service, while limiting two retired judges to settlement-conference duties and withholding one nominee from the final block vote.

The committee approved certification for retired judges, circuit judges with recent or pending retirements, general district court judges with recent or pending retirements, and juvenile and domestic relations (JDR) judges in separate block motions. Committee leaders said the votes were conducted by voice and that no roll-call tallies were provided on the record.

Why it matters: these certifications determine which judges may continue to sit in retired status, and which nominees move forward for full appointment. The committee’s actions can affect court workloads, the availability of recall judges, and how courts schedule settlement conferences…