gavel_2.jpgTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Some of this year's bills that would reform Florida's judicial branch have cleared the state Senate's judiciary committee.

Committee members voted Monday afternoon to approve a measure that would amend the state constitution to make public records out of certain now-confidential files of the Judicial Qualifications Commission. The commission investigates and disciplines judges.

They also voted up a provision requiring the Legislature to approve all rules of court.

And the panel introduced a proposed committee bill removing the Florida Bar from the process of recommending people to serve on judicial nominating commissions and replacing it with the attorney general.

The votes on the bills followed party lines. A bill increasing judges' required retention-election vote total to 60 percent was temporarily postponed.