LRB-3566/1
SRM:kjf:rs
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
February 1, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives E. Coggs and Young. Referred
to Committee on Judiciary and Ethics.
AJR101,1,3
1To amend section 6 of article VII and section 7 of article VII of the constitution;
2relating to: judicial circuit subdivision in Milwaukee County (first
3consideration).
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The constitution provides that the legislature shall prescribe judicial circuits
and bound them by county lines. Currently, the legislature has created 69 judicial
circuits, with 66 circuits composed of one county each and three circuits composed
of two counties each. In 41 circuits, the legislature has created additional judgeships,
and established one branch for each judge. Branches are not geographical divisions.
Milwaukee County has 47 such branches. Each judge runs for election from the
whole county at-large. This amendment would require the legislature to further
divide Milwaukee County into judicial circuit subdivisions having no more than
60,000 population and require that circuit judges be elected from and reside in the
subdivision.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive
legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
AJR101,1,4
4Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
AJR101, s. 1
5Section
1. Section 6 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR101,2,7
1[Article VII] Section 6. The legislature shall prescribe by law the number of
2judicial circuits, making them as compact and convenient as practicable, and
3bounding them by county lines. No alteration of circuit boundaries
or subdivisions 4shall have the effect of removing a circuit judge from office during the judge's term.
5In case of an increase of circuits, the first judge or judges shall be elected.
In
6Milwaukee County, circuits shall be divided by law so that no subdivision has a
7population exceeding 60,000.
AJR101, s. 2
8Section
2. Section 7 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR101,2,139
[Article VII] Section 7. For each circuit there shall be chosen by the qualified
10electors thereof one or more circuit judges as prescribed by law. Circuit judges shall
11be elected for 6-year terms and shall reside in the circuit from which elected.
In
12Milwaukee County, circuit judges shall reside in the subdivision of the circuit from
13which elected.
AJR101,2,16
14Be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment be referred to the
15legislature to be chosen at the next general election and that it be published for three
16months previous to the time of holding such election.
