ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 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
ENGROSSED HOUSE
JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 1024 By: Moore and Harris of the
House
and
Gollihare of the Senate
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amendment to Section 3 of
Article VII-B of the Constitution of the State of
Oklahoma; updating references to congressional
districts; modifying provisions related to terms of
office; removing restrictions based on membership in
political party; removing restrictions based upon
status as licensed attorney; removing restriction
based upon status of family members as licensed
attorneys; removing restriction related to succession
in office; prescribing procedures related to changes
in congressional districts; providing for
applicability of amendatory provisions; providing
ballot title; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE
1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall re fer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Section 3 of Article VII -B of
the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma to read as follows:
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 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
Section 3. (a) There is established a s a part of the Judicial
Department a Judicial Nominating Commission of fift een (15) members,
to consist of:
(1) six members to be appointed by the Governor, which shall
include at least one from each congressional district established by
the Statutes of Oklahoma and existing at the date of the adoption of
this Article, none of whom shall be admitted to practice law in the
State of Oklahoma or have any immediate family member who has been
admitted to the practice of law in the State of Oklahoma or any
other state as such congressional districts exist as of the date of
the appointment. Each member appointed pursuant to the provisions
of this paragraph shall serve a term of six (6) years ;
(2) six members, which shall include at least one from each
congressional district established by the Statutes of Oklahoma and
existing at the date of the adoption of this Article as such
congressional districts exist as of the date of the selection who
are, however, members of the Oklahoma Bar Association and who have
been elected by the other active members of their district under
procedures adopted by the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar
Association, until changed by statute . Each member appointed
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall serve a term of
six (6) years; and
(3) three members at large who shall not have been admitted to
the practice of law in the State of Oklahoma or any other state or
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 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
have any immediate family member who has been admitted to the
practice of law in the State of Oklahoma or a ny other state but who
each of whom shall be a resident of the State of Okla homa, one to be
selected by not less than eight members of the Nominating
Commission. In the event eight members of the Commission cannot
agree upon the member at large within thi rty (30) days of the
initial organization of the Commission or within thirty (30) days of
a vacancy in the member at large position, the Governor shall make
the appointment of the member at large; one to be selected by the
President Pro Tempore of the Sena te; and one to be selected by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. No more than two members
at large shall belong to any one political party. Each member
appointed pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall serve a
term of two (2) years.
(b) The Commission shall elect one of its members to serve as
chair for a term of one (1) year.
(c) The six lay members of the Commission who are appointed by
the Governor shall be appointed within ninety (90) days from the
date that this Article becomes effective. Two members shall be
appointed for a term of two (2) years, two members for a term of
four (4) years, and two members for a term of six (6) years. The
Oklahoma Bar Association shall hold its election and certify to the
Secretary of State its members within ninety (90) days from the
effective date of this Article, two of whom shall be elected for a
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 Page 4 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
term of two (2) years, two for a term of four (4) years, and two for
a term of six (6) years. Thereafter all All of the members of the
Commission, whether elected or appointed, shall serve for a term of
six (6) years, excep t that the member at large shall serve for a
term of two (2) years.
(b) (d) Vacancies arising during the term of any lay
commissioner, other than the member at large, shall be fil led by
appointment by the Governor for the remainder of his or her term.
Vacancies of any lawyer commissioner in positions elected pursuant
to the procedures established by the Oklahoma Bar Association shall
be filled by the Board of Governors of the Okla homa Bar Association
for the remainder of his or her the applicable term.
(c) (e) In the event of vacancy in any of the member at large
position positions, the said vacancy shall be filled in the same
manner as the original selection.
(d) Of those Commis sioners named by the Governor, not more than
three shall belong to any one political party.
(e) (f) The concurrence of the majority of Commissioners in
office at the time shall be sufficient to decide any question,
unless otherwise provided herein. The C ommission shall have
jurisdiction to determine whether the qualifications of nominees to
hold Judicial Office have been met and to determine the existence of
vacancies on the Commission.
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 Page 5 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
(f) (g) No Commissioner, while a member of the Commission,
shall hold any other public office by election or appointment or any
official position in a political party and he or she shall not be
eligible, while a member of the Commission and for five (5) years
thereafter, for nomination as a Judicial Officer.
(g) (h) Commissioners shall serve without compensation but the
Legislature shall provide funds to reimburse them for their
necessary travel and lodging expenses while performing their duties
as such Commissioners.
(h) No Commissioner shall be permitted to succeed hims elf or
herself serve more than twelve (12) consecutive years, whether
elected or appointed .
(i) As used herein, the words "Oklahoma Bar Association" shall
include any successor thereof and any future form of the organized
Bar of this state.
(j) The modifications to the provisions of this section
pursuant to Enrolled House Joint Resolution No. 1024 of the 1st
Session of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature shall be applicable to any
position on the Judicial Nominating Commission that ends by
expiration of the ter m of office or by vacancy.
SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 Page 6 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. _ ___
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends Section 3 of Article 7-B of the Oklahoma
Constitution. It changes provisions related to the Judicial
Nominating Commission. It updates references so appointments
made by certain persons b ased on the congressional districts
would be made using the current congressional districts instead
of the districts as the districts were constituted when this
section of the Constitution was originally adopted in 1967. It
removes a prohibition on certai n members of the Commission so
that the person could be a licensed attorney. It allows a
person to serve on the Commission even if they have a member of
their family who is a licensed attorney. It changes the terms
so that with the exception of at -large members, the term would
be for six (6) years. The at -large members would serve a two -
year term. It removes restrictions based on political party
membership. It removes a provision that prohibits a Commission
member from succeeding himself or herself on the Commission. It
provides that the changes in the way people are appointe d or
selected for membership on the Judicial Nominating Commission
will apply to positions as they become vacant because an
existing term of office expires or because of a vacancy.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
ENGR. H. J. R. NO. 1024 Page 7 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 3. The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives,
immediately after the passage of this resolution, shall prepare and
file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in
SECTION 2 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the
Attorney General.
Passed the House of Representatives the 12th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the ____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate