| 1 | 1 | | 81R11179 CAE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Keffer H.B. No. 2234 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the eligibility of certain judges to take the bar |
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| 8 | 8 | | examination. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 82, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 82.0261 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 82.0261. SUBSTITUTION OF CERTAIN JUDICIAL SERVICE FOR |
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| 13 | 13 | | LAW STUDY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A person may substitute for the |
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| 14 | 14 | | prelegal study and training and law study required of a candidate |
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| 15 | 15 | | for the examination for a license to practice law: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) eight consecutive years of judicial service |
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| 17 | 17 | | hearing cases as a judge of a constitutional county court; or |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) six consecutive years of judicial service hearing |
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| 19 | 19 | | cases as a judge of a constitutional county court if the person has |
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| 20 | 20 | | received a baccalaureate or advanced degree from a public or |
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| 21 | 21 | | private institution of higher education accredited by a regional |
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| 22 | 22 | | accrediting agency or group that is recognized by a nationally |
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| 23 | 23 | | recognized accreditation board. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b) The person must meet the requirements of this section |
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| 25 | 25 | | before applying to take the examination. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) This section does not affect the supreme court |
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| 27 | 27 | | requirements relating to the moral character of a candidate for a |
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| 28 | 28 | | license to practice law. |
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| 29 | 29 | | (d) The person must give the clerk of the supreme court |
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| 30 | 30 | | notice of the person's intent to take a scheduled examination for a |
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| 31 | 31 | | license to practice law not later than the 30th day before the date |
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| 32 | 32 | | of the examination. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 2. The change in law made by Section 82.0261, |
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| 34 | 34 | | Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to an application to |
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| 35 | 35 | | take a bar examination made on or after the effective date of this |
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| 36 | 36 | | Act, regardless of whether the applicant's judicial service accrued |
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| 37 | 37 | | before, on, or after that date. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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