SB 2146

Effective September 1, 2026, this bill creates in the 30th judicial district two additional criminal courts to be designated as violent criminal courts. The governor shall appoint a person to serve as judge of each of the violent criminal courts, and th e person so appointed must serve in that capacity until September 1, 2028, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified. At the August 2028 general election, the qualified voters of the 30th judicial district must elect one person to serve as j udge of each violent criminal court. The person so elected at the August 2028 general election must hold office until September 1, 2030, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, the judges of the violent criminal courts must be elected for a full eight-year term. TRANSFER OF CASES This bill directs the presiding judge to address caseload backlogs in the criminal courts by transferring cases involving certain criminal offenses to the violent criminal courts for disposition. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY POSITIONS Effective September 1, 2026, this bill provides that the district attorney general of the 30th judicial district is entitled to four assistant district attorney positions and two criminal investigator positions that are in addition to those positions pro vided in present law.