Supreme court districts

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:2
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the 3
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state 4
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to 5
Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution of the state of Washington 6
to read as follows: 7
Article IV, section 3. ((The judges )) (1) A justice of the 8
supreme court shall be elected by the qualified electors of ((the 9
state at large )) a supreme court judicial district at the general 10
state election at the times and places at which state officers are 11
elected, unless some other time be provided by the legislature. ((The 12
first election of judges of the supreme court shall be at the 13
election which shall be held upon the adoption of this Constitution 14
and the judges elected thereat shall be classified by lot, so that 15
two shall hold their office for the term of three years, two for the 16
term of five years, and one for the term of seven years. The lot 17
shall be drawn by the judges who shall for that purpose assemble at 18
the seat of government, and they shall cause the result thereof to be 19
certified to the secretary of state, and filed in his office. )) The 20
legislature shall by statute create the supreme court judicial 21
districts and specify the time and manner for holding the first 22
H-1231.1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4202
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representative Dufault
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HJR 4202
district-based election of justices and expiring the term of any 1
justice elected by the qualified electors of the state prior to the 2
creation of the supreme court judicial districts. 3
(2) The supreme court shall select a chief justice from its own 4
membership to serve for a four-year term at the pleasure of a 5
majority of the court as prescribed by supreme court rule. The chief 6
justice shall preside at all sessions of the supreme court. In case 7
of the absence of the chief justice, the majority of the remaining 8
court shall select one of their members to serve as acting chief 9
justice. After the first district-based election the terms of 10
((judges)) justices elected shall be six years from and after the 11
second Monday in January next succeeding their election.12
(3) If a vacancy occur s in the office of a ((judge)) justice of 13
the supreme court the governor shall only appoint a person to ensure 14
the number of ((judges)) justices as specified by the legislature 15
from the supreme court judicial district where the vacancy occurred , 16
to hold the office until the election and qualification of a 17
((judge)) justice to fill the vacancy, which election shall take 18
place at the next succeeding general election, and the ((judge)) 19
justice so elected shall hold the office for the remainder of the 20
unexpired term. ((The term of office of the judges of the supreme 21
court, first elected, shall commence as soon as the state shall have 22
been admitted into the Union, and continue for the term herein 23
provided, and until their successors are elected and qualified.))24
(4) The sessions of the supreme court shall be held at the seat 25
of government until otherwise provided by law. 26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 27
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four 28
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every 29
legal newspaper in the state. 30
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p. 2 HJR 4202