HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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limits of available fiscal resources, requires a thorough
study to determine whether modifications of our existing
judicial system are needed to make it work more
efficiently"; and

WHEREAS, Such a study should be conducted by a
commission with broad-based representation from all branches
of government and from the private sector; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Legislative Policy Committee be urged to establish a
Commission to Study the Judicial Branch of Government; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission consist of 4? 16 members,
as follows: two three members of the Senate of Maryland, to
be appointed by the President of the Senate; two three
members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House; three judges, to be appointed by the
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals; three members of the
Maryland Bar, at least one with substantial prosecutorial
and at least one with substantial criminal defense
experience, to be appointed by the President of the Maryland
State Bar Association, Inc.; two representatives of local
government, to be appointed by the Governor; two officials
of the Executive Branch of State government, to be appointed
by the Governor; and three representatives of the public,
who shall not be lawyers, judges, or public employees, to be
appointed by the Governor; the Governor to appoint the
Chairman from among the appointed members of the Commission;
and the State Court Administrator shall serve as a nonvoting
member; and be it further

RESOLVED, That commission members shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That the commission receive staff support
from the Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement and the
Administration of Justice and from the Administrative Office
of the Courts; and that all State and local agencies of
government are urged to cooperate with the commission by
supplying information and advice as requested; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That the commission is urged to study all
aspects of the operations of the Judicial Branch of
government, including, but not limited to, consolidation and
funding of the circuit courts of the several counties and
Baltimore City; the allocation of civil, juvenile, and
criminal jurisdiction between the circuit courts and the
District Court of Maryland; the expanded use of masters in
equity matters; the feasibility of a family court; the use
of six member juries in the District Court and in the
circuit courts; the decriminalization of nonincarcerable