Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-3650
Sponsor: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]
Introduced: 2005-09-06 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administration of justice
Appellate courts
Bankruptcy courts
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
District courts
Emergency Management
Finance and Financial Sector
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Judicial districts
Juries
Magistrates

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-06
text: 
Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005 - Allows federal circuit courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, and magistrate judges to hold special sessions outside their circuits or districts upon a finding that, because of emergency conditions, no location within the courts' regular circuits or districts is reasonably available. Authorizes such courts to transact any business, except certain criminal proceedings, at a special session outside their circuits or districts which they might transact at a regular session. 

action_date: 2005-09-07
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005 - Allows federal circuit courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, and magistrate judges to hold special sessions outside their circuits or districts upon a finding by a chief judge or judicial council that, because of emergency conditions, no location within the courts' regular circuits or districts is reasonably available. Authorizes such courts to transact any business, except certain district court criminal proceedings, at a special session outside their circuits or districts which they might transact at a regular session. 
 
Requires special session courts, through the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to notify the Judiciary Committees of Congress of any order issued in a special session. Requires the Administrative Office to report to such congressional committees describing the reasons for the issuance of a special session order, the duration of such order, the impact of such order on litigants, and the costs to the judiciary resulting from such order. Requires special session courts to provide reasonable notice to the U.S. Marshals Service before the commencement of any special session. 
 
Prohibits a criminal trial from being conducted at a special session outside the state in which the crime was committed unless the defendant consents to trial outside the state. Restricts criminal jury pools to the district in which a crime was committed unless the defendant consents to be tried by jurors from the district in which the trial court is holding a special session.

action_date: 2005-09-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 7, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005 - Allows federal circuit courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, and magistrate judges to hold special sessions outside their circuits or districts upon a finding by a chief judge or judicial council that, because of emergency conditions, no location within the courts' regular circuits or districts is reasonably available. Authorizes such courts to transact any business, except certain district court criminal proceedings, at a special session outside their circuits or districts which they might transact at a regular session. 
 
Requires special session courts, through the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to notify the Judiciary Committees of Congress of any order issued in a special session. Requires the Administrative Office to report to such congressional committees describing the reasons for the issuance of a special session order, the duration of such order, the impact of such order on litigants, and the costs to the judiciary resulting from such order. Requires special session courts to provide reasonable notice to the U.S. Marshals Service before the commencement of any special session. 
 
Prohibits a criminal trial from being conducted at a special session outside the state in which the crime was committed unless the defendant consents to trial outside the state. Restricts criminal jury pools to the district in which a crime was committed unless the defendant consents to be tried by jurors from the district in which the trial court is holding a special session.

action_date: 2005-09-09
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 8, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Federal Judiciary Emergency Special Sessions Act of 2005 - Allows federal circuit courts of appeals, district courts, bankruptcy courts, and magistrate judges to hold special sessions outside their circuits or districts upon a finding by a chief judge or judicial council that, because of emergency conditions, no location within the courts' regular circuits or districts is reasonably available. Authorizes such courts to transact any business, except certain district court criminal proceedings, at a special session outside their circuits or districts which they might transact at a regular session. 
 
Requires special session courts, through the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to notify the Judiciary Committees of Congress of any order issued in a special session. Requires the Administrative Office to report to such congressional committees describing the reasons for the issuance of a special session order, the duration of such order, the impact of such order on litigants, and the costs to the judiciary resulting from such order. Requires special session courts to provide reasonable notice to the U.S. Marshals Service before the commencement of any special session. 
 
Prohibits a criminal trial from being conducted at a special session outside the state in which the crime was committed unless the defendant consents to trial outside the state. Restricts criminal jury pools to the district in which a crime was committed unless the defendant consents to be tried by jurors from the district in which the trial court is holding a special session.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-09
text: Became Public Law No: 109-63.
action_date: 2005-09-09
text: Became Public Law No: 109-63.
action_date: 2005-09-09
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-09-09
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9774-9776)
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9774-9776)
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 0 (Roll no. 456). (text: CR H7689-7690)
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 0 (Roll no. 456).(text: CR H7689-7690)
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7695-7696)
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3650.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7689-7692)
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2005-09-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-09-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-09-06
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 109-63