By: Huffines S.J.R. No. 12
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the establishment
of limits on the number of terms judges and justices may serve on
courts in this state.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article V, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 32 to read as follows:
Sec. 32. (a) The legislature by general law shall require
the Supreme Court, in consultation with the Court of Criminal
Appeals, to establish a limit on the number of terms a judge or
justice may be elected to serve as a judge or justice of a court
established under this article, by the legislature under general
law, or by the governing body of a municipality by ordinance.
(b) A judge or justice who has been elected to serve on a
court for the maximum number of terms established by the Supreme
Court, in consultation with the Court of Criminal Appeals, as
required by Subsection (a) of this section is not eligible for
election to serve an additional term on that court.
(c) The term of a person appointed to serve on a court for
the remainder of a term or to fill a vacancy on the court is not
counted in determining whether the person is eligible to serve
under Subsection (b) of this section.
SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2017, requiring the legislature by general law to
require the Supreme Court, in consultation with the Court of
Criminal Appeals, to establish a limit on the number of terms a
judge or justice may serve on a court in this state.
(b) The Supreme Court shall establish the limit as required
by the general law enacted under Subsection (a) of this temporary
provision not later than December 1, 2018.
(c) A term that begins before January 1, 2019, is not
counted in determining whether a judge or justice is eligible to
serve on a court under Section 32, Article V, of this constitution.
(d) This temporary provision expires February 1, 2039.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the
legislature to establish term limits for judges and justices
serving on courts in this state."