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 SJR 13 3
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By: Senator J. Dotson 5
By: Representative Lundstrum 6
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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW A 9
CANDIDATE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEALS 10
JUDGE, CIRCUIT JUDGE, OR DISTRICT JUDGE TO DECLARE 11
HIS OR HER PARTY AFFILIATION OR INDEPENDENT STATUS 12
WHEN RUNNING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE AND HAVE THAT 13
AFFILIATION OR STATUS REFLECTED ON THE BALLOT TO 14
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY TO THE VOTERS OF ARKANSAS. 15
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Subtitle 18
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A 19
CANDIDATE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, 20
COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, CIRCUIT JUDGE, 21
OR DISTRICT JUDGE TO DECLARE HIS OR HER 22
PARTY AFFILIATION OR INDEPENDENT STATUS 23
WHEN RUNNING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE. 24
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 26
STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A MAJORITY OF ALL 27
MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE AGREEING THERETO: 28
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THAT the following is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of 30
the State of Arkansas, and upon being submitted to the electors of the state 31
for approval or rejection at the next general election for Representatives 32
and Senators, if a majority of the electors voting thereon at the election 33
adopt the amendment, the amendment shall become a part of the Constitution of 34
the State of Arkansas, to wit: 35
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SECTION 1. INTENT. The purpose of this amendment to the Arkansas 1
Constitution is to ensure transparency to the voters of Arkansas by allowing 2
a candidate for Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Judge, 3
or District Judge to declare his or her party affiliation or independent 4
status when running for judicial office and having that affiliation or status 5
reflected on the ballot. 6
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 80, §§ 17 and 18, are 8
amended to read as follows: 9
§ 17. Election of circuit and district judges Circuit Judges and 10
District Judges. 11
(A) Circuit Judges and District Judges shall be elected on a 12
nonpartisan basis by a majority of qualified electors voting for such office 13
within the circuit or district which they serve. 14
(B) Vacancies in these offices shall be filled as provided by this 15
Constitution. 16
(C) A candidate for Circuit Judge or District Judge may elect to: 17
(1) Have his or her political party affiliation identified on 18
the ballot; or 19
(2) Be identified on the ballot as an independent candidate. 20
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§ 18. Election of Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges. 22
(A) Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges shall be 23
elected on a nonpartisan basis by a majority of qualified electors voting for 24
such office. Provided, however, the General Assembly may refer the issue of 25
merit selection of members of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals to a 26
vote of the people at any general election. If the voters approve a merit 27
selection system, the General Assembly shall enact laws to create a judicial 28
nominating commission for the purpose of nominating candidates for merit 29
selection to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. 30
(B) Vacancies in these offices shall be filled by appointment of the 31
Governor, unless the voters provide otherwise in a system of merit selection. 32
(C) A candidate for Supreme Court Justice or Court of Appeals Judge 33
may elect to: 34
(1) Have his or her political party affiliation identified on 35
the ballot; or 36 SJR13
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(2) Be identified on the ballot as an independent candidate. 1
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This amendment is effective on and after 3
January 1, 2027. 4
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SECTION 4. BALLOT TITLE AND POPULAR NAME. When this proposed 6
amendment is submitted to the electors of this state on the general election 7
ballot: 8
(1) The title of this Joint Resolution shall be the ballot 9
title; and 10
(2) The popular name shall be "A Constitutional Amendment to 11
Ensure Transparency in Judicial Elections to the Voters of Arkansas.". 12
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