44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 6, SECTION 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTING OR RETAINING CERTAIN DISTRICT JUDGES WHO SERVE IN MULTICOUNTY DISTRICTS.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 6, Section 14 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"The qualifications of the district judges shall be the same as those of justices of the supreme court except that district judges shall have been in the actual practice of law for at least six years preceding assumption of office. Each district judge shall reside in the district for which the judge was elected or appointed. [The increased qualifications provided by this 1988 amendment shall not apply to district judges serving at the time this amendment passes or elected at the general election in 1988.] In multicounty districts where there is at least one judge who resides in each county, the judges of those districts shall stand for election or retention only in their county of residence."

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 which may be called for that purpose.