Rule 12.01: Appellate Bench-Bar Committee

(a)   Purpose. The Supreme Court creates the Appellate Bench-Bar Committee to provide a forum for open communication between appellate judges, court staff, and appellate practitioners on the following topics:

(1)   appellate court rules and operating procedures;

(2)   continuing education programs on appellate practice; and

(3)   other related issues as directed by the appellate courts.

(b)   Member Appointment. The Supreme Court will appoint permanent members and members with term limits. For members from organizations outside of the Judicial Branch, the Court will consult with leadership of each respective organization in making an appointment.

(c)   Permanent Members. The people serving in the following positions are permanent members who are not subject to term limits:

(1)   one Supreme Court justice, who will serve as chair;

(2)   one Court of Appeals judge;

(3)   the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, who will serve as secretary;

(4)   the Director of Supreme Court Appeals; and

(5)   the Chief Counsel to the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

(d)   Members with Term Limits. The Supreme Court will appoint the following nine members with the term limits set out in subsection (e):

(1)   one representative from the Attorney General’s Office Solicitor General’s Division;

(2)   one representative from the Appellate Defender Office;

(3)   two representatives from different district or county attorney offices that do not contract with the Attorney General’s Office to handle criminal appeals;

(4)   one capital appellate public defender;

(5)   one representative from the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services Administrative Office; and

(6)   three at large attorneys, giving special consideration to diversity of practice and location.

(e)   Terms. The following provisions apply to the members listed in subsection (d).

(1)   Inaugural Term Limits. The inaugural members will serve staggered terms. Three members will serve 1 year, three members will serve 2 years, and three members will serve 3 years. An inaugural member initially appointed for less than 3 years may then serve two consecutive 3-year terms.

(2)   Subsequent Term Limit. Other than the inaugural members, the Supreme Court will appoint each member for a 3-year term. No member may serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms.

(3)   Return to Service. A member may serve one or more additional terms after a break in service.

(4)   Vacancy. The Supreme Court will appoint a new member to fill a vacancy. A member appointed to fill a vacancy will serve the unexpired term of the previous member and may then serve two consecutive 3-year terms.

(f)    Additional Members. At the chair’s request, the Supreme Court may appoint additional members to assist the committee as permanent or term-limited members.

(g)   Meetings. The committee will meet every January, June, and September and when directed by the chair. No later than two weeks before each meeting, the secretary will ask all members for any suggested agenda items.

[History: New rule adopted effective April 29, 2025.]