94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
SC0065

 

Introduced 1/19/2006, by Sen. Frank C. Watson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 12

    Proposes to amend the Judiciary Article of the Illinois Constitution. Prohibits a Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Judge who fails to file a declaration of candidacy for retention from filing petitions as a candidate for the judicial vacancy created by that failure. Effective upon being declared adopted.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
5 CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the
6 electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general
7 election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of
8 this resolution a proposition to amend Article VI of the
9 Illinois Constitution by changing Section 12 as follows:
 
10
ARTICLE VI
11
THE JUDICIARY

12     (ILCON Art. VI, Sec. 12)
13 SECTION 12. ELECTION AND RETENTION
14     (a) Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Judges shall be
15 nominated at primary elections or by petition. Judges shall be
16 elected at general or judicial elections as the General
17 Assembly shall provide by law. A person eligible for the office
18 of Judge may cause his name to appear on the ballot as a
19 candidate for Judge at the primary and at the general or
20 judicial elections by submitting petitions. The General
21 Assembly shall prescribe by law the requirements for petitions.
22     (b) The office of a Judge shall be vacant upon his death,
23 resignation, retirement, removal, or upon the conclusion of his
24 term without retention in office. Whenever an additional
25 Appellate or Circuit Judge is authorized by law, the office
26 shall be filled in the manner provided for filling a vacancy in
27 that office.
28     (c) A vacancy occurring in the office of Supreme, Appellate
29 or Circuit Judge shall be filled as the General Assembly may
30 provide by law. In the absence of a law, vacancies may be
31 filled by appointment by the Supreme Court. A person appointed
32 to fill a vacancy 60 or more days prior to the next primary
33 election to nominate Judges shall serve until the vacancy is

 

 

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1 filled for a term at the next general or judicial election. A
2 person appointed to fill a vacancy less than 60 days prior to
3 the next primary election to nominate Judges shall serve until
4 the vacancy is filled at the second general or judicial
5 election following such appointment.
6     (d) Not less than six months before the general election
7 preceding the expiration of his term of office, a Supreme,
8 Appellate or Circuit Judge who has been elected to that office
9 may file in the office of the Secretary of State a declaration
10 of candidacy to succeed himself. The Secretary of State, not
11 less than 63 days before the election, shall certify the
12 Judge's candidacy to the proper election officials. The names
13 of Judges seeking retention shall be submitted to the electors,
14 separately and without party designation, on the sole question
15 whether each Judge shall be retained in office for another
16 term. The retention elections shall be conducted at general
17 elections in the appropriate Judicial District, for Supreme and
18 Appellate Judges, and in the circuit for Circuit Judges. The
19 affirmative vote of three-fifths of the electors voting on the
20 question shall elect the Judge to the office for a term
21 commencing on the first Monday in December following his
22 election.
23     (d-5) A Supreme, Appellate, or Circuit Judge who fails to
24 timely file a declaration of candidacy to succeed himself or
25 herself in office may not file petitions of candidacy for the
26 vacancy in that office created by that failure.
27     (e) A law reducing the number of Appellate or Circuit
28 Judges shall be without prejudice to the right of the Judges
29 affected to seek retention in office. A reduction shall become
30 effective when a vacancy occurs in the affected unit.
31 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 
32
SCHEDULE
33     This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being
34 declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois
35 Constitutional Amendment Act.