Legislative counsel’s judiciary team introduces portfolios, contact process to House Judiciary Committee

Michelle, Eric Fitzpatrick and Ben Novakrosky — the three-member legislative counsel team that regularly supports the House Judiciary Committee — introduced themselves and summarized the subjects they most often handle on Jan. 10 during the committee’s orientation.

The attorneys described how the legislative counsel office is organized by subject matter rather than by permanent committee assignment, and asked new committee members to email before dropping by to make sure a subject-matter attorney is available.

Michelle said she typically handles family-law topics — divorces, custody and parentage — along with legislation on domestic violence, drug policy (including cannabis as it moved from prohibition to regulation), reproductive-health protections and related parentage and adoption matters. “If you want to talk substance, you want to talk to the person,” she said, explaining that the team divides matters so members are routed to the attorney with the most relevant experience.

Eric Fitzpatrick described his regular portfolio as covering firearms policy, court procedure and judicial matters, probate and competency matters tied to criminal proceedings. He said his trial experience led to a focus on how court rules and processes work in practice and called the miscellany bill (a yearly catchall technical bill) “typically quite a lengthy bill covering a lot of different topics.”

Ben Novakrosky said his work centers on restorative justice and community-based alternatives (diversion and community justice centers), law-enforcement constitutional issues (qualified immunity, interrogation and forfeiture), correctional policy and juvenile delinquency. He urged members drafting bills on bail, juvenile delinquency or diversion to consult the counsel team early.

All three told the committee that they do not have all answers immediately but will help identify appropriate experts and witnesses, and encouraged members to email to arrange short meetings rather than surprise visits to the counsel office across the parking lot.

The attorneys also outlined practical supports: lists identifying which attorney covers which subject (kept by staffer Nate and available in the committee directory), and an office location (2 Aiken and an attic office for some judiciary attorneys). They said the office tries to remain nonpartisan and will work on bills across the ideological spectrum.

The orientation concluded with the counsel team inviting members to consult them as bills are drafted or when members need technical wording, witnesses or background on prior legislative work.