CS/SJR 1/a APPELLATE JUDGES NOMINATION COMMISSION, CA

Sen Katy Duhigg

Actions: [2] SRC/SJC/SFC-SRC- DNP-CS/DP-SJC [4] DP/a-SFC- w/drn [6] PASSED/S (27-10) [9] HGEIC/HJC-HGEIC [11] DP-HJC [14] DP [15] PASSED/H (55-6) SGND.

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 Senate Bill 226989 proposes to amend the state constitution by replacing the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law as chair of the appellate judges nominating commission with the chief justice of the supreme court. It also proposes to add an additional member of the supreme court to the commission.  

 Senate Bill 226989 proposes to amend Article 6, Section 35 of the state constitution by changing the composition of the Appellate Judges Nominating Commission (Commission).  It proposes to remove from this Commission the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law.  The chief justice of the supreme court, who is already a member of the Commission, replaces the Dean’s position as chair of the Commission and can only vote in the event of a tie.  The resolution adds that the chief justice member can also be a retired justice of the supreme court.  The resolution adds an additional member of the supreme court to the commission.

This proposed amendment must be submitted to the people for their approval at the next general election or at any special election prior to the date.  
 

 Currently, the dean serves as the chair of the commission and votes only in the event of a tie vote.  Currently, the chief justice member of the Commission cannot be a retired justice.  

 On January 27, 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee amended SRCcs/SJR 1 by amending the short title of the bill. The amendment replaces the “appellate judges nominating commission” with the “judicial nominating commission”.  

 The Senate Rules Committee Substitute of SJR 1 proposes to amend Article 6, Section 35 of the state constitution by allowing the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law to appoint a designee to the Appellate Judges Nominating Commission. The designee must be an associate dean, a faculty member, a retired faculty member or a former dean of the law school.  The dean or the designee serves as chair of the commission.