SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Steve Komadina

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 6 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE FOR FIVE SUPREME COURT JUDICIAL ELECTION DISTRICTS.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 6 of the constitution of New Mexico by adding a new section to read:

     "The state shall be divided into five supreme court judicial election districts as provided by law. One justice of the supreme court shall be elected by the qualified electors residing in each district. Justices of the supreme court holding office on January 1 following the election at which this amendment is adopted shall be assigned to the districts as provided by law and shall be eligible for retention or rejection by the electorate of their assigned district at the general election next preceding the end of the term for which the justice was last elected prior to the adoption of this amendment; thereafter, justices shall be appointed and elected as provided by law. A vacancy on the court, however derived, shall be filled by a qualified person who is a resident of the supreme court district from which the person is appointed. Any candidate for justice after the effective date of this amendment shall be a resident of the supreme court district in which the candidate is running."

     Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

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