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53	53	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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55	55	1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
56	56
57	57	SENATE JOINT
58	58	RESOLUTION 9 By: Guthrie
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63	63	AS INTRODUCED
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65	65	A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
66	66	to refer to the people for their approval or
67	67	rejection the repeal of Sectio n 3 of Article VII-B of
68	68	the Oklahoma Constitution , which relates to the
69	69	Judicial Nominating Commission, and the proposed
70	70	amendment to Sections 1, 2, and 4 of Article VII -B of
71	71	the Oklahoma Constitution; modifying applicability of
72	72	certain provisions; modifyi ng definition; adding
73	73	requirement for holding certain office; prohibiting
74	74	decrease of certain compensation; modifying certain
75	75	appointment procedure; requiring Senate confirmation
76	76	of certain judicial appointments; providing ballot
77	77	title; and directing filin g.
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81	81	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
82	82	1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
83	83	SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
84	84	their approval or rejection, as and in the man ner provided by law,
85	85	the repeal of Section 3 of Article VII -B and the following proposed
86	86	amendment to Sections 1, 2, and 4 of Article VII -B of the Oklahoma
87	87	Constitution to read as follows:
88	88	Section 1. (a) The A. After November 5, 202 5, the provisions
89	89	of this Article shall govern the selection and tenure of all
90	90	Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Court of Criminal
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142	142	Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals of the State of Oklahoma, to
143	143	which the provisions hereof may be extended as hereinafter provi ded,
144	144	other provisions of the Constitution or statutes of the State of
145	145	Oklahoma to the contrary notwithstanding, and the provisions of
146	146	Article VII as proposed by House Joint Resolution No. 508 of the
147	147	First Session of the Thirty -first Oklahoma Legislature to the
148	148	contrary notwithstanding.
149	149	(b) B. As used in this Section Article, “Judicial Office” means
150	150	the offices of Justice of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Court
151	151	of Criminal Appeals and Court of Civil Appeals and “Judicial
152	152	Officer” means a Justice or Jud ge of each such court, excluding
153	153	retired or supernumerary Justices or Judges.
154	154	Section 2. A. At the general election next before his or her
155	155	term expires, any Judicial Officer may seek retention in office by
156	156	filing with the Secretary of State, not less tha n sixty (60) days
157	157	before the date of such election, a declaration of candidacy to
158	158	succeed himself or herself. Thereupon, at such election, there
159	159	shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the State , on a
160	160	separate ballot, without party designation, th is question:
161	161	“Shall (Here insert name of Justice or Judge) of (Here
162	162	insert the title of the court) be retained in Office? ”
163	163	□ YES
164	164	□ NO
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216	216	The question shall be decided by a majority of those voting
217	217	thereon. If the decision is “yes” the Judicial Officer shall be
218	218	retained in office for the next ensuing six (6) year term. If the
219	219	decision is “no”, or if no declaration of candidacy is filed, the
220	220	office shall be vacant upon expiration of the term then being
221	221	served, and the former Judicial Officer shall not be eligi ble for
222	222	appointment to succeed himself or herself. Retention in office may
223	223	be sought for successive terms without limit as to number, except
224	224	for retirement as may be provided by the Legislature for a ma ximum
225	225	retirement age.
226	226	B. Subject to paragraph c of S ection 11 of Article VII of the
227	227	Oklahoma Constitution, Judicial Officers appointed or retained
228	228	pursuant to this Article, after November 5, 202 5, shall hold their
229	229	offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive
230	230	for their services, a compen sation, which shall not be diminished
231	231	during their continuance in office.
232	232	Section 4. When a vacancy in any Judicial Office, however
233	233	arising, occurs or is certain to occur, the Judicial Nominating
234	234	Commission shall choose and submit to the Governor and the Chief
235	235	Justice of the Supreme Court three (3) nominees, each of whom has
236	236	previously notified the Commission in writing that he will serve as
237	237	a Judicial Officer if appointed. The the Governor shall appoint one
238	238	(1) of the nominees to fill the vacancy, but if he fails to do so
239	239	within sixty (60) days the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall
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291	291	appoint one (1) of the nominees, the appointment to be certified by
292	292	the Secretary of State nominate and, with the ad vice and consent of
293	293	the Senate, shall appoint all Jud icial Officers. If the Senate is
294	294	not in session when a nomination is made, the Governor may call the
295	295	Senate into special session to advise and consent on any such
296	296	nomination.
297	297	SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
298	298	amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
299	299	the following form:
300	300	BALLOT TITLE
301	301	Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
302	302	THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
303	303	This measure would amend Article 7 -B of the Oklahoma
304	304	Constitution. The measure would amend Sections 1, 2, and 4 of
305	305	Article 7-B to establish a new process for appointing Supreme
306	306	Court justices and judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and
307	307	Court of Civil Appeals to reflect on the process established by
308	308	the United States Constitution. The Governor will nominate new
309	309	appellate justices and judges, subject to confirmation by the
310	310	Senate. Appellate justices and judges appointed or retained
311	311	after November 5, 202 5, will serve during good behavior. The
312	312	measure would repeal Section 3 of Article 7 -B which established
313	313	the Judicial Nominating Commission.
314	314	SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
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366	366	FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
367	367	AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
368	368	SECTION 3. The President Pro Tempore of the Sena te shall,
369	369	immediately after the passage of this r esolution, prepare and file
370	370	one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2
371	371	hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
372	372	General.
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374	374	60-1-1086 TEK 1/14/2025 3:54:53 PM

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SJR9 Compare Versions