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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications of judges of certain courts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 24.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 24.001. [AGE] QUALIFICATION OF JUDGES. A person is not |
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eligible to serve as a [A] district judge unless the person: |
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(1) is [must be] at least 25 years old; and |
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(2) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.0014, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0014. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. A person is not |
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eligible to serve as a [The] judge of a statutory county court |
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unless the person [must]: |
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(1) is [be] at least 25 years of age; |
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(2) is [be] a United States citizen and has [have] |
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resided in the county for at least two years before election or |
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appointment; [and] |
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(3) is [be] a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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combined, for the four years preceding election or appointment, |
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unless otherwise provided for by law; and |
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(4) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 25.0033, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.0033. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. A person is not |
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qualified to serve as a [The] judge of a statutory probate court |
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unless the person [must]: |
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(1) is [be] at least 25 years of age; |
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(2) is [be] a United States citizen and has [have] |
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resided in the county for at least two years before election or |
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appointment; [and] |
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(3) is [be] a licensed attorney in this state who has |
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practiced law or served as a judge of a court in this state, or both |
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combined, for the five years preceding election or appointment, |
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unless otherwise provided for by law; and |
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(4) has never been found to be a vexatious litigant |
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under Chapter 11, Civil Practice and Remedies Code. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a judge who is elected or appointed on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. A judge elected or appointed before the effective date |
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of this Act continues to serve for the term to which the judge was |
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elected or appointed, unless otherwise removed as provided by law. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |