Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to the Arkansas
Constitution.
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HJR 1015 3
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By: Representatives Lundstrum, Achor, Andrews, Barker, Beck, Bentley, A. Brown, K. Brown, N. 5
Burkes, R. Burkes, Joey Carr, John Carr, Cavenaugh, Crawford, Duffield, Duke, Eubanks, Furman, 6
Gonzales, Gramlich, Hall, Holcomb, Hollowell, Jean, Ladyman, Long, J. Mayberry, McAlindon, 7
McClure, McGrew, McNair, S. Meeks, K. Moore, Nazarenko, Puryear, Ray, Richmond, Rose, Torres, 8
Tosh, Underwood, Unger, Vaught, Wing, Womack, Wooten 9
By: Senators G. Stubblefield, A. Clark, Dees, J. Dotson, J. English, Hester, J. Payton, J. Petty, D. 10
Wallace, Caldwell, Flippo, Hill, B. Johnson, M. Johnson, C. Penzo, Rice, D. Sullivan 11
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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 13
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO ENSURE 14
TRANSPARENCY BY REQUIRING A CANDIDATE FOR SUPREME 15
COURT JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, CIRCUIT JUDGE, 16
OR DISTRICT JUDGE TO DECLARE HIS OR HER POLITICAL 17
PARTY AFFILIATION OR INDEPENDENT STATUS WHEN RUNNING 18
FOR OFFICE AND HAVE THAT POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION 19
OR INDEPENDENT STATUS REFLECTED ON THE BALLOT. 20
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Subtitle 23
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ENSURE 24
TRANSPARENCY BY REQUIRING A JUDICIAL 25
CANDIDATE TO DECLARE HIS OR HER 26
POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION OR 27
INDEPENDENT STATUS WHEN RUNNING FOR 28
OFFICE. 29
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 31
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND BY THE SENATE, A MAJORITY OF ALL 32
MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE AGREEING THERETO: 33
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THAT the following is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of 35
the State of Arkansas, and upon being submitted to the electors of the state 36 HJR1015
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for approval or rejection at the next general election for Representatives 1
and Senators, if a majority of the electors voting thereon at the election 2
adopt the amendment, the amendment shall become a part of the Constitution of 3
the State of Arkansas, to wit: 4
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SECTION 1. INTENT. The purpose of this amendment to the Arkansas 6
Constitution is to ensure transparency by requiring a candidate for Supreme 7
Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Judge, or District Judge to 8
declare his or her political party affiliation or independent status when 9
running for office and have that political party affiliation or independent 10
status reflected on the ballot. 11
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, §§ 17 and 18, are 13
amended to read as follows: 14
§ 17. Election of circuit and district judges Circuit Judges and 15
District Judges. 16
(A) Circuit Judges and District Judges shall be elected on a 17
nonpartisan basis by a majority of qualified electors voting for such office 18
within the circuit or district which they serve. 19
(B) Vacancies in these offices shall be filled as provided by this 20
Constitution. 21
(C) A candidate for Circuit Judge or District Judge shall: 22
(1) Have his or her political party affiliation identified on 23
the ballot; or 24
(2) Be identified on the ballot as an independent candidate. 25
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§ 18. Election of Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges. 27
(A) Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges shall be 28
elected on a nonpartisan basis by a majority of qualified electors voting for 29
such office. Provided, however, the General Assembly may refer the issue of 30
merit selection of members of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals to a 31
vote of the people at any general election. If the voters approve a merit 32
selection system, the General Assembly shall enact laws to create a judicial 33
nominating commission for the purpose of nominating candidates for merit 34
selection to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. 35
(B) Vacancies in these offices shall be filled by appointment of the 36 HJR1015
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Governor, unless the voters provide otherwise in a system of merit selection. 1
(C) Unless the voters provide otherwise in a system of merit 2
selection, a candidate for Supreme Court Justice or Court of Appeals Judge 3
shall: 4
(1) Have his or political party affiliation identified on the 5
ballot; or 6
(2) Be identified on the ballot as an independent candidate. 7
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This amendment to the Arkansas 9
Constitution is effective on and after January 1, 2027. 10
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SECTION 4. BALLOT TITLE AND POPULAR NAME. When this proposed 12
amendment is submitted to the electors of this state on the general election 13
ballot: 14
(1) The title of this Joint Resolution shall be the ballot 15
title; and 16
(2) The popular name shall be "A Constitutional Amendment to 17
Ensure Transparency by Requiring a Judicial Candidate to Declare His or Her 18
Political Party Affiliation or Independent Status When Running for Office.". 19
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