Institute for Legislative Practice
Established in 1995, the Institute for Legislative Practice sponsors public forums on major issues that have included Environmental Law, Contractual Arbitration, Health Care Reform, Cameras in the Courtroom, Public Contracting, Juvenile Justice, Intellectual Property, and the 2000 Presidential Election.
The Institute provides nonpartisan legislative analyses, drafting, testimony and consultation on legislation. In conjunction with the Institute, Pacific McGeorge students often write legislation under faculty supervision that is introduced and becomes law.
Examples of legislation drafted by the Institute with student assistance:
- Bill to reform employment relations between trial courts and trial court employees.
- Law to repeal certain criminal penalties for transporting trout out of season.
- Law consolidating statutory fees for business programs administered by the Secretary of State.
- Numerous laws implementing unification of state and municipal trial courts in California.
- Law reducing required document filings with the Secretary of State.
- Constitutional amendment to permit unification of trial courts in California.
- Law establishing the California Habeas Resource Center to provide representation in death penalty cases.
- Bill to expand the enforceability of covenants not to complete.
- Law establishing pilot project to use questionnaires as a basis for exercising pre-voir dire peremptory jury challenges.
- Law governing record certification in death penalty appeals.
- Law establishing a physical abuse hearsay exception.
The Institute publishes analytical reports on current issues that are relied upon by the legislature as it develops and considers pertinent legislation. Pacific McGeorge students frequently have the opportunity to write or co-write such reports as part of their course work.
Report topics have included jury verdicts in medial malpractice cases, jury verdicts in insurance bad faith cases, subordinate judicial officers and magistrates, judicial elections, merit selection of judges, arbitration of consumer disputes, reform of the California State Bar, appointment of attorneys to represent indigents on death row, proposed amendments to the Three Strikes Law, California's civil service requirement, reform of California's reapportionment process, the constitutionality of curfew requirements, and cameras in the courtroom. Selected reports and testimony may be accessed on the Publications page of this site.
