Req. No. 2404 Page 1 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 35 By: Dahm
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amendment to Section 2 of
Article VII of the Oklahoma Constitution;
establishing limitation of term of service for
certain Judicial Officer; establishing requirements
for application of term limitations to partial t erms;
providing ballot title; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA TIVES OF THE
2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manne r provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Section 2 of Article VII of the
Oklahoma Constitution to read as follows:
Section 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of nine Justices
until the number shall be changed by statute and each Justice shal l
be from a separate district of the State. Each district shall
remain as presently cons tituted until otherwise provided by Statute.
The terms of office of the Justices o f the Supreme Court shall be
six years and shall commence on the second Monday of Ja nuary
Req. No. 2404 Page 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
following their election. Any Justice who is elected to office
after the effective date of this amendment shall be eligible to
serve no more than twelve (12) years on the Supreme Court. The
years served by any Justice appointed or elected to serve less than
a full term to fill a vacancy in office shall not be in cluded in the
twelve-year limitation set forth herein; but no Justice who has
completed twelve (12) years in office shall thereafter be eligible
to serve a partial term. Any Justice who is serving a term in
office or who has been elected or appointed to serve a term in
office on the effective date of this amendment shall be entitled to
complete his or her term and shall be eligible to serve an
additional twelve (12) years thereafter. Those appointed or elected
to fill vacancies shall assume office immediately upon qualifying
for the office. Each Justice, at the time of his election or
appointment, shall have atta ined the age of thirty years, shall have
been a qualified elector in the distric t for at least one year
immediately prior to the date of filing or appointment, and shall
have been a licensed practicing attorney or judge of a court of
record, or both, in Oklahoma for five years preceding his election
or appointment and shall continue to be a duly licensed attorney
while in office to be eligible to hold the office. The Justices
shall choose from among their members a Chief Justice and a Vice
Chief Justice.
Req. No. 2404 Page 3 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the propo sed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITIO N IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure would amend Section 2 of Article 7 of the Oklahoma
Constitution. The measure would impose a term limit of 12 years
on Justices of the Su preme Court. It allows members to serve
more than 12 years if filling a vacancy for a partial term. It
allows Justices serving when this measure is approved to finish
a term then serve 12 additional years.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, pre pare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set for th in SECTION 2
hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
59-2-2404 TEK 1/18/2024 3:41:15 PM