The Arizona Judicial Council (AJC) met on Monday, June 18, 2012. The next meeting is scheduled Thursday, October 25, 2012, at the State Courts Building, in Phoenix. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the Court Leadership Conference.
View the 2012 Meeting Schedule and Materials
Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch, Chair of the Council acknowledged that Vice Chief Justice Andrew Hurwitz has been confirmed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
AJC welcomed the newest Council member, Mr. Gary Kcmarik as the Court Administrator member of the Council.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Joe Kanefield, Judge Doug Holt and Judge Louraine Arkfeld. This was their last meeting as members of theAJC.
Committee on Improving Judicial Oversight and Processing of Probate Court Matters Update
Mike Baumstark, Deputy Director, provided insight and an overview on the history of the Committee and the parts being recommended for approval.
Jeff Schrade, Director of Education Services, and Paul Julien, Judicial Education Officer, outlined the training proposed for judicial officers, court appointed attorneys, and unlicensed fiduciaries.
Nancy Swetnam, Director of the Certification and Licensing Division, presented on the proposed training for fiduciaries and the fee guidelines.
Cindy Trimble and Ashley Dammen discussed the proposed changes and recommendations to the probate forms.
Motions were passed to approve the probate training package and to approve the three code sections with amendments as a bundle.
Arizona Code of Judicial Administration (ACJA) 1-307: Judge Pro Tempore Financial Disclosure
David Withey, Chief Legal Counsel presented ACJA 1-307 as a consent item, which would equally apply to judges pro tempore, commissioners, and juvenile hearing officers the duty to file financial disclosure statements as provided by A.R.S. § 38-542. The Council approved.
Rule 123 Discipline Records Petition
Mr. Withey also presented on the pending Rule 123 petition. The pending change would clarify the rule by expressly stating discipline records are closed and provide a means to open them for good cause. Under the current Rule 123(e)(1) discipline records should be closed because they are not among the listed exceptions to closure.
The Council voted to support the rule change petition.
If approved by the Court, the effective date would be January 1, 2013.
Commission on Technology (COT) Update
Karl Heckart, Chief Information Officer and Kevin Kluge, Chief Financial Officer discussed funds and approved allocations for COT and the Judicial Collections Enhancement Fund (JCEF), which the Council approved.
*Time did not permit for a Judicial Branch Legislative Update