| 1 | 1 | | 87R9685 TSS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Rodriguez H.B. No. 3053 |
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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 qualifications of judges of certain courts. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 24.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 10 | 10 | | read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 24.001. [AGE] QUALIFICATION OF JUDGES. A person is not |
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| 12 | 12 | | eligible to serve as a [A] district judge unless the person: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) is [must be] at least 25 years old; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | (2) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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| 15 | 15 | | under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Section 25.0014, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 17 | 17 | | read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 25.0014. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. A person is not |
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| 19 | 19 | | eligible to serve as a [The] judge of a statutory county court |
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| 20 | 20 | | unless the person [must]: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) is [be] at least 25 years of age; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) is [be] a United States citizen and has [have] |
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| 23 | 23 | | resided in the county for at least two years before election or |
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| 24 | 24 | | appointment; [and] |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) is [be] a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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| 26 | 26 | | practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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| 27 | 27 | | combined, for the four years preceding election or appointment, |
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| 28 | 28 | | unless otherwise provided for by law; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (4) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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| 30 | 30 | | under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 3. Section 25.0033, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 32 | 32 | | read as follows: |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 25.0033. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. A person is not |
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| 34 | 34 | | qualified to serve as a [The] judge of a statutory probate court |
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| 35 | 35 | | unless the person [must]: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) is [be] at least 25 years of age; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) is [be] a United States citizen and has [have] |
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| 38 | 38 | | resided in the county for at least two years before election or |
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| 39 | 39 | | appointment; [and] |
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| 40 | 40 | | (3) is [be] a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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| 41 | 41 | | practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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| 42 | 42 | | combined, for the five years preceding election or appointment, |
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| 43 | 43 | | unless otherwise provided for by law; and |
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| 44 | 44 | | (4) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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| 45 | 45 | | under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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| 47 | 47 | | a judge who is elected or appointed on or after the effective date |
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| 48 | 48 | | of this Act. A judge elected or appointed before the effective date |
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| 49 | 49 | | of this Act continues to serve for the term to which the judge was |
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| 50 | 50 | | elected or appointed, unless otherwise removed as provided by law. |
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| 51 | 51 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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