By: Smithee H.J.R. No. 10       A JOINT RESOLUTION   proposing a constitutional amendment changing the eligibility   requirements for certain judicial offices.          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2(b), Article V, Texas Constitution, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  No person shall be eligible to serve in the office of   Chief Justice or Justice of the Supreme Court unless the person is   licensed to practice law in the State of Texas [this state] and is,   at the time of election, a citizen of the United States and of the   State of Texas [this state], and has attained the age of thirty-five   years, and has been a practicing lawyer licensed in the State of   Texas for at least ten years, or has been a practicing lawyer   licensed in the State of Texas and judge of a state court or county   court established by the Legislature by statute for a combined   total of [court of record together] at least ten years, during which   time the person's license to practice law has not been revoked,   suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.          SECTION 2.  Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 7.  The State shall be divided into judicial districts,   with each district having one or more Judges as may be provided by   law or by this Constitution. Each district judge shall be elected   by the qualified voters at a General Election and shall be a citizen   of the United States and of this State, who is licensed to practice   law in this State and has been a practicing lawyer or a Judge of a   Court in this State, or both combined, for six [four (4)] years next   preceding the judge's [his] election, during which time the judge's   license to practice law has not been revoked, suspended, or subject   to a probated suspension, who has resided in the district in which   the judge [he] was elected for two [(2)] years next preceding the    [his] election, and who shall reside in the [his] district during   the judge's [his] term of office and hold the [his] office for the   period of four [(4)] years, and who shall receive for the judge's    [his] services an annual salary to be fixed by the Legislature. The   Court shall conduct its proceedings at the county seat of the county   in which the case is pending, except as otherwise provided by law.   The judge [He] shall hold the regular terms of the judge's [his]   Court at the County Seat of each County in the [his] district in   such manner as may be prescribed by law. The Legislature shall have   power by General or Special Laws to make such provisions concerning   the terms or sessions of each Court as it may deem necessary.          The Legislature shall also provide for the holding of   District Court when the Judge thereof is absent, or is from any   cause disabled or disqualified from presiding.          SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to   the Texas Constitution:          TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies   to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2017, changing the eligibility requirements for a   justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal   appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.          (b)  The amendment to Section 2(b), Article V, of this   constitution takes effect January 1, 2018, and applies only to a   chief justice or other justice of the supreme court, a presiding   judge or other judge of the court of criminal appeals, or a chief   justice or other justice of a court of appeals who is first elected   for a term that begins on or after January 1, 2021, or who is   appointed on or after that date.          (c)  The amendment to Section 7, Article V, of this   constitution takes effect January 1, 2018, and applies only to a   district judge who is first elected for a term that begins on or   after January 1, 2021, or who is appointed on or after that date.          (d)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2022.          SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be   submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.   The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the   proposition: "The constitutional amendment changing the   eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a   judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of   appeals, and a district judge."