Section 3.
Select dates to read amendment and select a date from the dropdown to compare the changes.
Supreme court; administrative supervision; chief justice
Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected at the general election to be held under the provisions of the Enabling Act approved June 20, 1910. Their term of office shall be co-terminous with that of the Governor of the State elected at the same time, and the one receiving the highest number of votes shall be the chief justice. At the first general State election thereafter, held under this Constitution, at which a Governor is voted for, three judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected, and the judges elected thereat shall be classified by lot, so that one shall hold office for a term of six years, and one for a term of four years, and one for a term of two years, from and after the first Monday in January next succeeding said election. The lot shall be drawn by the judges-elect, who shall assemble for that purpose at the State Capitol, and shall cause the results to be certified to the Secretary of State, who shall file the same in his office.
The judge having the shortest time to serve, and not holding his office by appointment or by election to fill a vacancy, shall be the chief justice, and shall preside at all sessions of the Supreme Court. In case of absence of the chief justice, the judge having in like manner the shortest time to serve shall preside.
After the first State election one judge shall be elected every two years at the general election, and the term of the judge elected shall be six years from and after the first Monday in January next succeeding his election, and judges so elected shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualify.
If a vacancy occur in the office of judge of the Supreme Court, the Governor shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy until the election and qualification of a judge to hold said office, which election shall take place at the next succeeding general election, and the person so elected shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Whenever for any reason any judge shall be disqualified from acting in any cause brought before said court, the remaining judges of said court shall call one of the judges of the Superior Court to sit with them on the hearing of said cause.
The sessions of the Supreme Court shall be held at the seat of government.
The judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected at the general State election by the qualified electors of the State at large. The names of all candidates for the office of judge of the Supreme Court shall be placed on the regular ballot in alphabetical order without partisan or other designation except the title of the office.