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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ind. Court - Proposed constitutiuonal amendment to judicial article set to be heard in House committee [Updated]
HJR 9, a proposed constitutional amendment introduced by Rep. Craig Fry, which was originally assigned to the Committee on Courts (chaired by Rep. Linda Lawson), was reassigned to the Committtee on Government and Regulatory Reform (chaired by Rep. John Bartlett) on Feb. 12th. Here is the digest:
Selection of supreme court justices. Provides that the Indiana supreme court consists of five members, three of whom are elected by the voters of districts and two of whom are elected by all the voters of Indiana. Provides that the general assembly may by law provide for transition from a system of appointed and retained justices to a system for election of justices. Provides that the governor fills a vacancy on the supreme court from the judges of the court of appeals and the individual who fills the vacancy serves the remainder of the unexpired term of the justice the individual succeeds. Makes technical changes. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.The resolution has been added to a long list of proposals to be heard by the Gov. Reform Committee today, Feb. 17th, upon adjournment.
Rep. Fry is also the author of the HB 1491, which would require the nonpartisan election of superior court judges in St. Joseph County, and which was passed by the House last week, 88-3.
[Updated 2/18/09] HJR 9 failed to receive the votes needed to pass it out of committee yesterday, and so presumably is dead for now.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 17, 2009 02:31 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts