Memorandum

To:	All Judges
From:	William L. Martin, III
Subject:	Report of Administrator/Clerk
Date:	December 16, 1997

Attached please find a copy of my report for this month. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Holes have been punched on the left side of the report in case you wish to include it in your Banc notebook.

PLEASE BRING THIS REPORT WITH YOU TO THE BANC MEETING.

Attachment

REPORT OF ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK

December 16, 1997

1.	ORAL ARGUMENT REPORT:

Attached please find the monthly oral argument report for January, 1998. Additionally, I have attached a copy of the year-end report for 1996 and 1997. (Pages 2-4)

2.	FLOWER FUND REPORT:

Attached please find a report of the activity of the Court of Appeals Flower Fund. I have received dues from all judges for this year's flower fund. (Page 5)

3.	LEGISLATION:

Attached please find a report on legislation that is pending from last year's session of the General Assembly, as well as proposed legislation for next year. (Pages 6-7)

FLOWER FUND REPORT

December 16, 1997

Balance Brought Forward 7-31-97	$ 157.71

Deposits (Judges dues)	$ 300.00

Balance	$ 457.71

Checks: #109 ( Lorentzson )	$ 56.43

Balance:	$ 401.28

LEGISLATION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS

PENDING FROM THE 1997 SESSION

OF THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB 525	Representatives Martin of the 42nd and Barnes of the 33rd.

Provides a motion for reconsideration will not extend the time to file the certificate of immediate review in interlocutory application.

Status - Read twice in the House. Remains active for the second year of the two-year session.

SB 78	Senator Oliver of the 42nd , et al

Adds three more judges to the Court of Appeals.

Status - Passed Senate; read twice in the House. Remains active for the second year of the two-year legislative session.

SB 369	Senator Ralston of the 51st

Provides an increase in compensation for senior judges serving as judges of the appellate courts from $165.00 to $300.00 per day.

Status - House Committee Substitute increased compensation for senior judges serving in any court. Must go back to the Senate for their agreement or disagreement to the House Committee Substitute.

SB 370	Senator Ralston of the 51st

Adds Prisoner Litigation Reform Act cases to the list of discretionary applications under Section 5-6-35.

Status - Passed Senate; read twice in the House.

Proposed Legislation for 1998 Session of the Georgia General Assembly.

LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

OF THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF GEORGIA

1998

1.	A proposed amendment to O.C.G.A. §15-3-1(b) to provide that the Court of Appeals is not limited to Three Divisions:

Divisions. The Court shall sit in no fewer than three Divisions composed of three judges in each Division. Two judges shall constitute a quorum of a Division. The assignment of judges to each Division shall be made by the Chief Judge, and the personnel of the Division shall from time to time be changed in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Court. The Chief Judge shall designate the presiding judges of the Divisions and shall, under rules prescribed by the Court, distribute the cases among the Divisions in such a manner as to equalize their workload as far as practicable.

2.	A proposed revision to O.C.G.A. §5-6-39 to remove appellate court judges from those having authority to grant an extension of time for filing Notice of Appeal:

Any judge of the trial court may, at its discretion, and without motion or notice to the other party, grant extensions of time for the filing of: (1) Notice of Appeal, (2) Notice of Cross Appeal, etc.