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Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Keep Appellate Justices’ Names Off Ballot—Usually
By a MetNews Staff Writer
A proposed constitutional amendment has been introduced in the Assembly which would authorize legislation providing that if a member of the California Supreme Court or a state Court of Appeal files a declaration of candidacy, his or her name will not appear on the ballot unless a petition is filed signed by the requisite number of voters requiring that the justice face voters in a “yes” or “no” retention election.
ACA 8 was introduced on Thursday by Assembly member Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz. It would add this language to Art. VI, §16:
“The Legislature may provide by statute that the name of a judge of the Supreme Court or a court of appeal who files a declaration of candidacy shall not appear on the ballot, and instead the judge shall be deemed elected, unless a petition requesting that the judge’s name appear on the ballot is filed by a requisite number of registered voters qualified to vote for the office.”
The proposal would make other minor changes.
A two-thirds vote of both houses would be required to put the proposed amendment before the electorate.
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