MINUTES 
          
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                             Thursday, June 18, 1998 
                                     1:00 pm 
                        City Hall Annex Chambers, Houston 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Jurisprudence was held on Thursday, June 18, 1998 in the City  
         Hall Annex Chambers, at Houston, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                  Senator David Cain 
                                                 Senator Robert Duncan 
                                                 Senator Gregory Luna 
                                                 Senator Steve Ogden 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm.  The  
         following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The Honorable Davie L. Wilson, First Court of Appeals,  
         testified on judicial selection. 
         The Honorable Sam Nuchia, First Court of Appeals, testified on  
         judicial selection. 
         The Honorable Richard Hall, 270th District Court, testified on  
         judicial selection. 
         The Honorable Eric Andell, First Court of Appeals, testified  
         on judicial selection. 
         Hugh Rice Kelly, representing himself, testified on judicial  
         selection. 
         Roland Garcia, Jr., representing himself, testified on  
         judicial selection. 
         Frumencio Reyes, Jr., representing himself, testified on  
         judicial selection. 
         Mark Lee, representing the Asian American Bar Association,  
         testified on judicial selection. 
         Bill Jones, representing Lawyers of Texas, testified on  
         judicial selection. 
          
         Chief Justice Mike Schneider, First Court of Appeals,  
         testified on judicial redistricting. 
         Chief Justice Paul Murphy, Fourteenth Court of Appeals,  
  
         testified on judicial redistricting. 
          
         At 4:00 Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. 
          
         Andrea Claire, representing the State Auditors Office,  
         testified on caseload management. 
          
         At 4:04 Senator Ellis resumed the chair. 
          
         Jerry Benedict, representing the Office of Court  
         Administration, testified on caseload management and jury  
         service. 
          
         The Honorable Beverly Kaufman, Harris County Clerk, testified  
         on civil court filing fees. 
         The Honorable Charles Bacarisse, Harris County District Clerk,  
         testified on civil court filing fees. 
         Shirley Davis, representing the Fort Bend County Clerk's  
         office, testified on civil court filing fees. 
         Jack McGehee, representing the Texas Trial Lawyers  
         Association, testified on civil court filing fees. 
          
         Rene R. Henry, representing the Office of Court  
         Administration, testified on criminal fine collection. 
          
         Earl S. Nesbitt, representing Settlement Capital Corporation,  
         testified on structured settlements. 
         Craig R. Sullivan, representing himself, testified on  
         structured settlements. 
         Bob Higley, representing himself, testified on structured  
         settlements. 
          
         Senator Ellis announced the next meeting of the Senate  
         Jurisprudence Committee would  be July 8 in Dallas. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:04 pm Senator Ellis  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Rick Svatora, Clerk