Relates to the removal of actions to certain courts in an adjoining county

Defendants gain treatment-court options with transfer limits

The law takes effect immediately. Defendants outside cities with 1 million or more people can ask to move an indicted criminal case to an adjoining county. The receiving superior court must be designated by the Chief Administrator of the Courts as a specialized court. Eligible courts include human trafficking, veterans treatment, and mental health courts. Both counties’ district attorneys must agree. Covered family offense charges cannot move to veterans treatment court when the accused and alleged victim share a family or household. A transfer order normally takes effect five days after it is issued. Before then, the receiving court can reject the case, blocking the transfer, or accept it on an earlier date. Either notice requires that court to promptly notify the defendant, defense lawyer, and both counties’ district attorneys. After transfer, the receiving court can handle the case through judgment or another final outcome.