Subscribe to receive our Floor Reports covering all the action on the Texas House and Senate floor!
This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to modify the eligibility
requirements for certain judicial offices. If passed, no person would be
eligible to serve in the office of Chief Justice or Justice of the Supreme Court unless the person is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, is a citizen of the United States and of Texas at the time of election, has been a practicing lawyer licensed in the State of Texas for at east ten years or has been a practicing lawyer licensed in the State of Texas and has been the judge of a state court or statutory county court for a combined total of at least ten years during which time the person's license to practice law has not been suspended or subject to a probated suspension.
In addition, this bill would modify the qualification requirements for district
judges. Under current law, they must have been a practicing lawyer or a judge
for four years in order to qualify for office. If this bill passes, they would
have to have been practicing law for at least six years and their licenses may
not have been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension during
those years. The legislature would be allowed, by general law, to require additional qualifications to be eligible to serve as a district judge or as a chef justice of the supreme court.
The bill is also enabling legislation for proposed constitutional amendment