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H.B. No. 2682
AN ACT
relating to the designation of permanent places for certain
judicial offices.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.015 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.015. PERMANENT PLACE DESIGNATIONS. (a) The
supreme court is composed of a chief justice and of eight justices
holding places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(b) The designation of offices and places under this section
identifies the offices and places for all purposes, including
identification on official ballots for primary and general
elections.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 22.112 to read as follows:
Sec. 22.112. PERMANENT PLACE DESIGNATIONS. (a) The court
of criminal appeals is composed of a presiding judge and of eight
judges holding places numbered consecutively beginning with Place
2.
(b) The designation of offices and places under this section
identifies the offices and places for all purposes, including
identification on official ballots for primary and general
elections.
SECTION 3. Section 22.216, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 22.216. MEMBERSHIP; PERMANENT PLACE DESIGNATIONS. (a)
The Court of Appeals for the First Court of Appeals District
consists of a chief justice and of eight justices holding places
numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(b) The Court of Appeals for the Second Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of six justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(c) The Court of Appeals for the Third Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of five justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(d) The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of six justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(e) The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of 12 justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(f) The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of two justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(g) The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of three justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(h) The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of three justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(i) The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of two justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(j) The Court of Appeals for the Tenth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of two justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(k) The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of two justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(l) The Court of Appeals for the Twelfth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of two justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(m) The Court of Appeals for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of five justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(n) The Court of Appeals for the Fourteenth Court of Appeals
District consists of a chief justice and of eight justices holding
places numbered consecutively beginning with Place 2.
(o) The designation of offices and places under this section
identifies the offices and places for all purposes, including
identification on official ballots for primary and general
elections.
(p) If any additional offices of justice of a court of
appeals are created, the designation for those offices shall be in
consecutive numerical order beginning with the next available place
number. If two or more offices of justice are created to take
effect the same date, and the legislature does not specify places
for those offices, the applicable court of appeals shall by rule
determine places for each office. If the court does not determine
places before a person is appointed or elected to fill the initial
vacancy, the places are determined by seniority. The chief justice
of the applicable court shall file the names and place numbers of
the justices with the secretary of state and the clerk of the court.
SECTION 4. Section 52.092(h), Election Code, and Sections
22.203(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government Code, are repealed.
SECTION 5. (a) The supreme court, by a majority vote of its
members, shall adopt rules establishing a seniority system to
determine which office and place is held by each justice serving on
the court in accordance with Section 22.015, Government Code, as
added by this Act. The chief justice shall file the names and place
numbers of the justices with the secretary of state and the clerk of
the court.
(b) The court of criminal appeals, by a majority vote of its
members, shall adopt rules establishing a seniority system to
determine which office and place is held by each judge serving on
the court in accordance with Section 22.112, Government Code, as
added by this Act. The presiding judge shall file the names and
place numbers of the judges with the secretary of state and the
clerk of the court.
(c) Each court of appeals, by a majority vote of its
members, shall adopt rules establishing a seniority system to
determine which office and place is held by each justice serving on
the court in accordance with Section 22.216, Government Code, as
amended by this Act. The chief justice shall file the names and
place numbers of the justices with the secretary of state and the
clerk of the court.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2682 was passed by the House on April
25, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2682 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor