Supreme court vacancies

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. (1) The ((judges)) justices of the supreme 8
court shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state at 9
large at the general state election at the times and places at which 10
state officers are elected, unless some other time be provided by the 11
legislature. ((The first election of judges of the supreme court 12
shall be at the election which shall be held upon the adoption of 13
this Constitution and the judges elected thereat shall be classified 14
by lot, so that two shall hold their office for the term of three 15
years, two for the term of five years, and one for the term of seven 16
years. The lot shall be drawn by the judges who shall for that 17
purpose assemble at the seat of government, and they shall cause the 18
result thereof to be certified to the secretary of state, and filed 19
in his office.))20
(2) The supreme court shall select a chief justice from its own 21
membership to serve for a four-year term at the pleasure of a 22
H-1236.1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4203
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abell, Couture, Marshall, Chase, Barnard, Keaton,
and Griffey
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HJR 4203
majority of the court as prescribed by supreme court rule. The chief 1
justice shall preside at all sessions of the supreme court. In case 2
of the absence of the chief justice, the majority of the remaining 3
court shall select one of their members to serve as acting chief 4
justice. After the first election the terms of ((judges)) justices 5
elected shall be six years from and after the second Monday in 6
January next succeeding their election. 7
(3) If a vacancy occur s in the office of a ((judge)) justice of 8
the supreme court the governor shall only appoint a person to ensure 9
the number of ((judges)) justices as specified by the legislature ((, 10
to hold the office )) and subject to confirmation by the senate as 11
provided by statute. The person so confirmed shall hold the office 12
until the election and qualification of a ((judge)) justice to fill 13
the vacancy, which election shall take place at the next succeeding 14
general election, and the ((judge)) justice so elected shall hold the 15
office for the remainder of the unexpired term. ((The term of office 16
of the judges of the supreme court, first elected, shall commence as 17
soon as the state shall have been admitted into the Union, and 18
continue for the term herein provided, and until their successors are 19
elected and qualified.))20
(4) The sessions of the supreme court shall be held at the seat 21
of government until otherwise provided by law. 22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 23
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four 24
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every 25
legal newspaper in the state. 26
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p. 2 HJR 4203