Texas House Bill HJR117

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of certain judicial offices.

Impact

If enacted, HJR117 would directly affect the election cycles and term lengths of numerous judicial positions within the state of Texas. This alteration aims to mitigate the frequency of judicial elections, which proponents argue may diminish the influence of political pressures on the judiciary. By creating longer terms, the bill is positioned as a means to foster a more independent judiciary, allowing judges and justices to focus on their cases without the immediate concern of re-election.

Summary

HJR117 proposes a significant amendment to the Texas Constitution regarding the terms of office for certain judicial positions. Specifically, it seeks to change the terms of justices on the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts of Appeals, and district judges from six years to eight years. This change is intended to establish staggered eight-year terms to provide more stability within the judiciary and potentially enhance the quality of judicial service by allowing justices to serve longer terms without frequent re-election pressures.

Contention

The proposed bill is not without controversy. Critics argue that extending judicial terms might reduce accountability as justices will face fewer elections, potentially leading to complacency or a lack of responsiveness to public sentiment. There are concerns that longer terms could have the unintended effect of entrenching judges and reducing the public's ability to influence critical judicial decisions through regular electoral processes. As such, discussions surrounding HJR117 reflect broader concerns about the balance between judicial independence and accountability.