By Danburg H.J.R. No. 107
75R1719 MWV-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the qualifications
1-2 of district judges.
1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 7. (a) The State shall be divided into judicial
1-7 districts, with each district having one or more Judges as may be
1-8 provided by law or by this Constitution.
1-9 (b) Each district judge shall be elected by the qualified
1-10 voters at a General Election and shall be a citizen of the United
1-11 States and of this State, who is licensed to practice law in this
1-12 State and has been a practicing lawyer or a Judge of a Court in
1-13 this State, or both combined, for 10 [four (4)] years next
1-14 preceding his election, who has resided in the district in which he
1-15 was elected for two [(2)] years next preceding his election, and
1-16 who shall reside in his district during his term of office and hold
1-17 his office for the period of four [(4)] years, and who shall
1-18 receive for his services an annual salary to be fixed by the
1-19 Legislature.
1-20 (c) The Court shall conduct its proceedings at the county
1-21 seat of the county in which the case is pending, except as
1-22 otherwise provided by law. A district judge [He] shall hold the
1-23 regular terms of his Court at the County Seat of each County in his
1-24 district in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The
2-1 Legislature shall have power by General or Special Laws to make
2-2 such provisions concerning the terms or sessions of each Court as
2-3 it may deem necessary.
2-4 (d) The Legislature shall also provide for the holding of
2-5 District Court when the Judge thereof is absent, or is from any
2-6 cause disabled or disqualified from presiding.
2-7 SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to the
2-8 Texas Constitution:
2-9 TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
2-10 to the constitutional amendment proposed by H.J.R. No. ____, Acts
2-11 of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, relating to the
2-12 qualifications of district judges.
2-13 (b) The constitutional amendment takes effect January 1,
2-14 2001.
2-15 (c) This temporary provision takes effect on the adoption of
2-16 the amendment by the voters and expires January 1, 2002.
2-17 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-18 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.
2-19 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-20 proposition: "The constitutional amendment relating to the
2-21 requirement of 10 years legal experience for district judges."