PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE

PRINTER'S NO. 818

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

733

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, JUNE 2, 2023

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 2, 2023

hereby resolves as follows:

Constitution of Pennsylvania are proposed in accordance with

Article XI:

§ 13. Election of justices, judges and justices of the peace;

elected at the municipal election next preceding the

commencement of their respective terms of office by the electors

justices of the peace which shall be by a majority. The person

so appointed shall serve for a term ending on the first Monday

of January following the next municipal election more than ten

months after the vacancy occurs or for the remainder of the

unexpired term whichever is less, except in the case of persons

selected as additional judges to the Superior Court, where the

General Assembly may stagger and fix the length of the initial

terms of such additional judges by reference to any of the

first, second and third municipal elections more than ten months

after the additional judges are selected. The manner by which

retention election as provided in section 15(b). In the case of

a vacancy occurring at the expiration of an appointive term

under section 13(b), the vacancy shall be filled by election as

provided in section 13(a).

Commonwealth may elect to have the justices and judges of the

Supreme, Superior, Commonwealth and all other statewide courts

appointed by the Governor from a list of persons qualified for

the offices submitted to him by the Judicial Qualifications

Commission. If a majority vote of those voting on the question

require the consent of the Senate.

section 13(d) shall hold office for an initial term ending the

first Monday of January following the next municipal election

more than 24 months following the appointment.

§ 15. Tenure of justices, judges and justices of the peace.

shall be [ten] four years [and the]. The regular term of office

for judges shall be ten years and the regular term of office for

(b).

appointed under section 13(d) or retained under this section

15(b) may file a declaration of candidacy for retention election

with the officer of the Commonwealth who under law shall have

supervision over elections on or before the first Monday of

January of the year preceding the year in which his term of

office expires. If no declaration is filed, a vacancy shall

exist upon the expiration of the term of office of such [justice

or] judge, to be filled by election under section 13(a) or by

municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the

term of office of the [justice or] judge, to determine only the

question whether he shall be retained in office. If a majority

is against retention, a vacancy shall exist upon the expiration

of his term of office, to be filled by appointment under section

13(b) or under section 13(d) if applicable. If a majority favors

retention, the [justice or] judge shall serve for the regular

term of office provided herein, unless sooner removed or

retired. At the expiration of each term a [justice or] judge

shall be eligible for retention as provided herein, subject only

(2) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of