81R2784 KLA-F
By: Alonzo H.J.R. No. 26
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the election of
district judges from election subdistricts.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7. The State shall be divided into judicial districts,
with each district having one or more Judges as may be provided by
law or by this Constitution. The judicial districts may be divided
into election subdistricts. Each district judge shall be elected
by the qualified voters of the district or, if the district is
divided into election subdistricts, of those subdistricts, at a
General Election. Each district judge [and] shall be a citizen of
the United States and of this State, who is licensed to practice law
in this State and has been a practicing lawyer or a Judge of a Court
in this State, or both combined, for four (4) years next preceding
the judge's [his] election, who has resided in the district in which
the judge [he] was elected for two (2) years next preceding the
judge's [his] election, and who shall reside in the [his] district
during the judge's [his] term of office and hold the [his] office
for the period of four (4) years, and who shall receive for the
judge's [his] services an annual salary to be fixed by the
Legislature. The Court shall conduct its proceedings at the county
seat of the county in which the case is pending, except as otherwise
provided by law. A district judge [He] shall hold the regular terms
of the judge's [his] Court at the County Seat of each County in the
judge's [his] district in such manner as may be prescribed by law.
The Legislature shall have power by General or Special Laws to make
such provisions concerning the terms or sessions of each Court as it
may deem necessary.
The Legislature shall also provide for the holding of
District Court when the Judge thereof is absent, or is from any
cause disabled or disqualified from presiding.
SECTION 2. Section 7a(i), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
repealed.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the
creation of election subdistricts from which district judges may be
elected."