AGENDA

AUGUST 25-26, 2000 SCAC MEETING

Friday, August 25, 2000


1. Recusal Rule. Consider comments of Senator Harris to Recusal Rule (short discussion).

1.1 May 22, 2000 Supreme Court Advisory Committee Subcommittee Working Draft of Recusal Rule Proposal.

1.2 July 12, 2000 Letter from Senator Chris Harris.

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2. Proposed Rule 226b . Voir Dire.

2.1 Senate Bill 1863 by Senator Cain.

2.2 1 page document titled: "Examination of Jury Panel by Voir Dire".

2.3 Letter from Judge Scott Brister dated January 11, 2000, with three Jury Task Force enclosures.
2.4 March 30, 2000, letter from Joe Jamail to Chief Justice Phillips and Justice Hecht.
2.5 Report of the Jury Rules Subcommittee-Proposed Voir Dire Rule dated May 15, 2000.
2.6 Letter to Justice Hecht from Charles A. Hood dated May 23, 2000.
2.7 Letter dated May 30, 2000 from Max E. Wright to Chip Babcock.
2.8 Letter from Paula Sweeney to Chip Babcock dated June 23, 2000 and enclosing a letter from former State Senator Ted B. Lyon, Jr. and a copy of an article from Texas Lawyer.
2.9 Packet from Judge Brister titled: "Advisory Committee's Letter of Transmittal" dated September 16, 1940(1) .
2.9a Judge Brister documents titled:
a) Studies on Effectiveness of Voir Dire;
b) Statements on the Importance and Uses of Voir Dire; and
c) Calls for Voir Dire Reform.
2.9b Paper of Richard C. Waites, J.D., Ph.D. titled: "Restricting Voir Dire-Good Court Management or Infringement of Due Process?".
 

    Additional document supplied on August 21, 2000:  "The Role and Effectiveness of Jury Selection in Eliminating Jury Bias -- A Scientific View."  Richard c. Waites, J.D., Ph.D.

Saturday, August 26, 2000

3. Rule 166a. Summary Judgment.

3.1 House Bill 02186 and veto memorandum from Governor George W. Bush.
3.2 Letter to Bob Pemberton from George B. Green dated September 22, 1998.
3.3 Letter from Anne Gardner to Governor George W. Bush dated May 27, 1999.
3.4 2 page document titled: "Rule 166a. Summary Judgment".

3.5  June 16, 1999 letter from R. Jordan to Vance McMahan regarding House Bill 2186.

3.6  Memorandum dated June 17, 1999 from J. Knight to R. Jordan regarding House Bill 2186.
 

4. Subcommittee Reports. Report by the Chair, Vice-Chair or designee of each subcommittee, and assignments of additional projects to subcommittees.
 
 
1. This packet was distributed at the May 19, 2000 SCAC meeting and consists of the first transmittal letter from the Supreme Court Advisory Committee to the Texas Supreme Court with attachments of two cases and a Baylor Law Review article entitled: "Challenges for Cause due to Bias or Prejudice: The Blind Leading the Blind Down the Road of Disqualification".