Bill Text: NJ ACR78 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposes a constitutional amendment abolishing tenure for Supreme Court justices and establishing retention elections as part of the reappointment process.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR78 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-ACR78-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 78

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  MICHAEL PATRICK CARROLL

District 25 (Morris)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Proposes a constitutional amendment abolishing tenure for Supreme Court justices and establishing retention elections as part of the reappointment process.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

  

A Concurrent Resolution proposing an amendment to Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 3 and adding a new section to Article VI of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

 

     1.    The following proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey are hereby agreed to:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

 

     a.     Amend Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 3 to read as follows:

     3.    a.  The Justices of the Supreme Court shall hold their offices for an initial term of 7 years and upon reappointment and approval by the voters as provided in Article VI, Section IX hold office for an additional term of 7 years beginning on the date of the justice's reappointment.  There shall be no limitation on the number of terms which a justice may serve; provided, however, that a justice shall be retired upon attaining the age of 70 years.  Provisions for the pensioning of the Justices of the Supreme Court shall be made by law.

     b.  The [Justices of the Supreme Court and the] Judges of the Superior Court shall hold their offices for initial terms of 7 years and upon reappointment shall hold their offices during good behavior; provided however, that, upon the abolition of the juvenile and domestic relations courts or family court and county district courts as provided by law, the judges in office in those former courts who have acquired tenure and the Judges of the Superior Court who have acquired tenure as a judge in those former courts prior to appointment to the Superior Court, shall have tenure as Judges of the Superior Court. Judges of the juvenile and domestic relations courts or family court and county district courts who have not acquired tenure as a judge of those former courts shall hold their offices for the period of their respective terms which remain unexpired and shall acquire tenure upon reappointment to the Superior Court. Such [justices and] judges shall be retired upon attaining the age of 70 years. Provisions for the pensioning of the [Justices of the Supreme Court and the] Judges of the Superior Court shall be made by law.

(cf: Article VI, Section VI, paragraph 3; effective December 8, 1983)
     b.    Amend Article VI by the addition of a new Section IX to read as follows:

     1.    a. Whenever a justice of the Supreme Court has been reappointed the question of whether the justice shall be retained in office shall be submitted by referendum to the people at the general election next following that reappointment.

     The question of whether a justice should be retained in office shall be included on the ballot as follows:

     "Shall . . . (insert name of justice) of the Supreme Court who has served on the Supreme Court since . . .(insert date of initial appointment) be retained in office?  Yes [    ]  No [   ]

     b.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote against retaining a justice in office, a vacancy shall exist as of the date the results of the election are certified by the Secretary of State.

     c.  If a majority of voters vote against retaining a justice in office, that justice shall not be eligible for any subsequent appointment  to the Supreme Court.

 

     2.    When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

 

     3.    This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:

     There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

     a.  In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question, as follows:

     If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (T) in the square opposite the word "Yes."  If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (T) in the square opposite the word "No."

b.      In every municipality the following question.

 

		ABOLISHMENT OF TENURE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF RETENTION ELECTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD REMAIN IN OFFICE.
	YES	Shall the amendments to Article VI of the State Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, abolishing tenure for Supreme Court Justices and establishing retention elections as the method for re-appointing Justices of the Supreme Court be approved?

 

		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This proposed amendment to the Constitution eliminates tenure for Supreme Court justices.  It also requires the voters to approve the reappointment of Supreme Court justices to subsequent terms. Currently, a Supreme Court justice who has served an initial seven-year term receives tenure when reappointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  The justice then continues to serve without the need for reappointment until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. This amendment provides that after serving an initial seven-year term, a Supreme Court justice can be reappointed for another seven-year term by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  Before that reappointment is finalized, however, it must be approved by the voters at the next general election.  If the voters decide to retain the justice in office, the justice will receive an additional seven-year term. This amendment does not limit the number of times a Supreme Court justice can be reappointed for an additional seven-year term.  It does require, however, that each reappointment be voted on at the next general election. As is required under current law, this amendment requires Supreme Court justices to retire at 70 years of age.

 

SCHEDULE

 

     This constitutional amendment shall, if approved take effect on January 1, next following the general election at which it was approved and shall be applicable to Supreme Court justices whose initial term expires on or after that date.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     Presently, Supreme Court justices serve an initial seven-year term and receive tenure upon reappointment by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  This concurrent resolution proposes a constitutional amendment eliminating tenure for Supreme Court justices and providing for retention elections as the method for determining whether Supreme Court justices shall remain in office.

     Under the proposed amendment, after serving an initial seven year term, if a justice is reappointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, the question of whether that justice would be retained in office would be submitted by referendum to the voters at the next general election.  If the reappointment is approved, the justice would serve an additional seven year term. There would be no limitation on the number of terms which a justice could serve but as under present law, a justice would be retired upon reaching 70 years of age.