2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-06691HJ0006
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0006
Election of judges and justices.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Schmid, Brady, Brown, G,
Lucas and McCann and Senator(s) Kolb and
Pearson
A JOINT RESOLUTION
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution to
2 provide for the election of judges and to repeal conflicting
3 constitutional provisions concerning the selection and
4 retention of judges.
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7 two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting
8 separately, concurring therein:
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10 The following proposal to amend Article 5,
11 Sections 4(b), (g) and (h), 19, 21 and 27 of the Wyoming
12 Constitution, is proposed for submission to the electors of
13 the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval
14 or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if
15 ratified by a majority of the electors at the election: 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-06692HJ0006
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6 (b) A vacancy in the office of justice of the supreme
7 court or judge of any district court or of such other courts
8 that may be made subject to this provision by law, shall be
9 filled by a qualified person
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22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-06693HJ0006
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4 (g) Each justice or judge selected under these
5 provisions shall serve
6 until the first Monday in January following the next general
7 election after the expiration of
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15. The electorate of the whole
16 state shall vote on the
17 of justices of the supreme court, and any other
18 statewide court; the electorate of the several judicial
19 districts shall vote on the
20 of judges of their respective districts, and the
21 electorate of such other subdivisions of the state as shall
22 be prescribed by law shall vote on the question of retention
23 of any other judges 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-06694HJ0006
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4 (h) A justice or judge selected hereunder, or one that
5 is in office upon the effective date of this amendment, who
6 shall desire to retain his judicial office a succeeding term,
7 following the expiration of his existing term of office,
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10 office not more than 6 months nor less than 3 months before
11 the general election to be held before the expiration of his
12 existing term of office a declaration of intent to stand for
13 election.
14 intent is filed, the appropriate electorate shall vote upon
15 a nonpartisan judicial ballot on the
16 of justice or
17 judge, and if a majority of those voting on the question vote
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23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-06695HJ0006
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7 Until otherwise provided by law, the state shall be
8 divided into three judicial districts, in each of which there
9 shall be elected at general elections, by the electors
10 thereof, one judge of the district court therein, whose term
11 shall be six (6) years from the first Monday in January
12 succeeding his election. and until his successor is duly
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1 The legislature may from time to time increase the number of
2 said judicial districts and the judges thereof, but such
3 increase or change in the boundaries of the district shall
4 not work the removal of any judge from his office during the
5 term for which he may have been elected;
6 provided the number of districts and district judges shall
7 not exceed four (4) until the valuation of taxable property
8 in the state shall be equal to one hundred million
9 ($100,000,000) dollars.
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14 No district court
15 shall be elected or appointed to any other than
16 judicial offices or be eligible
17 during the term for which
18 was elected. or appointed such judge.
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20 Article 5, Section 4(c) through (e) of the
21 Wyoming Constitution is repealed.
22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-06697HJ00061 That the Secretary of State shall endorse
2 the following statement on the proposed amendment:
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4 Currently, justices of the Wyoming Supreme Court and judges
5 of the Wyoming judicial branch are selected through a process
6 by which three (3) qualified persons are selected by a
7 judicial nominating commission, who forwards the three (3)
8 names to the governor for appointment. Justices and judges
9 then stand for a retention vote on a nonpartisan ballot during
10 general elections immediately preceding the expiration of the
11 judicial term.
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13 This constitutional amendment would provide for the election
14 of all justices and judges at general elections for specified
15 terms and would repeal the judicial nominating commission and
16 the requirement that judges and justices stand for retention.
17 Instead, justices and judges in office would be required to
18 stand for reelection if they desire to seek another term in
19 judicial office.
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21 (END)