Panel hears bill to let judges appoint county law library trustees, allow filing fees to support services

The Senate Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 53, which would amend statutes governing county law libraries to require that attorney trustees be appointed by the chief judge of the judicial district and to allow a portion of court filing fees to be used to facilitate and enhance district court functions, proponents said.

Proponents told the committee the change is aimed at improving stewardship of public funds tied to court fees and expanding access to justice in rural counties that have few or no resident attorneys. "The amendment would simply allow the second source [court filing fees] to be used for that purpose as well," Chief Judge Grant Bannister of the 21st Judicial District told the committee, saying the funds could support self‑help resources, public Wi‑Fi, loaner tablets for remote appearances and other technology to help litigants who cannot easily travel to court.

The reviser summarized the bill before the committee. Under current law described by the reviser, the board of trustees…