bill reopening visiting judge slots for retired district judges

The text as introduced · 338 words

89R8031 AMF-D

By: Morales of Maverick
H.B. No. 1664

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district

court judges for assignment as a visiting judge.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 74.055, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (d), (f-1), and (h) to read as follows:

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(4), a retired or former

district court judge is eligible to be named on the list if the

retired or former district court judge certifies under oath to the

presiding judge, on a form prescribed by the state board of regional

judges, that during the 15 years preceding assignment under this

section:

(1) the judge has not been publicly reprimanded or

censured by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct; and

(2) the judge:

(A) did not resign or retire from office after

the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified the judge of the

commencement of a full investigation into an allegation or

appearance of misconduct or disability of the judge as provided in

Section 33.022 and before the final disposition of that

investigation; or

(B) if the judge resigned from office under

circumstances described by Paragraph (A), was not publicly

reprimanded or censured as a result of the investigation.

(f-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (f), a former or retired

district court judge is ineligible to be named on the list only if

during the 15 years preceding appointment under this section the

former or retired judge is identified in a public statement issued

by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct as having resigned or

retired from office in lieu of discipline.

(h) Subsections (d) and (f-1) and this subsection expire

September 1, 2033.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.