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          SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
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        proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the sanctions that  | 
      
      
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        may be assessed against a judge or justice following a formal  | 
      
      
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        proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. | 
      
      
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               BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.  Subdivision (8), Section 1-a, Article V, Texas  | 
      
      
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        Constitution, is amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
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                     (8)  After such investigation as it deems necessary,  | 
      
      
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        the Commission may in its discretion issue a private or public  | 
      
      
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        admonition, warning, reprimand, or requirement that the person  | 
      
      
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        obtain additional training or education, or if the Commission  | 
      
      
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        determines that the situation merits such action, it may institute  | 
      
      
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        formal proceedings and order a formal hearing to be held before it  | 
      
      
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        concerning [the public censure, removal, or retirement of] a person  | 
      
      
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        holding an office or position specified in Subsection (6) of this  | 
      
      
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        Section, or it may in its discretion request the Supreme Court to  | 
      
      
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        appoint an active or retired District Judge or Justice of a Court of  | 
      
      
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        Appeals, or retired Judge or Justice of the Court of Criminal  | 
      
      
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        Appeals or the Supreme Court, as a Master to hear and take evidence  | 
      
      
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        in the [any such] matter, and to report thereon to the Commission.   | 
      
      
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        The Master shall have all the power of a District Judge in the  | 
      
      
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        enforcement of orders pertaining to witnesses, evidence, and  | 
      
      
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        procedure.  If, after formal hearing, or after considering the  | 
      
      
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        record and report of a Master, the Commission finds good cause  | 
      
      
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        therefor, it shall issue an order of public admonition, warning,  | 
      
      
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        reprimand, censure, or requirement that the person holding an  | 
      
      
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        office or position specified in Subsection (6) of this Section  | 
      
      
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        obtain additional training or education, or it shall recommend to a  | 
      
      
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        review tribunal the removal or retirement, as the case may be, of  | 
      
      
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        the person [in question holding an office or position specified in 
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          Subsection (6) of this Section] and shall thereupon file with the  | 
      
      
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        tribunal the entire record before the Commission. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to  | 
      
      
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        the Texas Constitution: | 
      
      
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               TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies  | 
      
      
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        to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature,  | 
      
      
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        Regular Session, 2013, relating to the sanctions that may be  | 
      
      
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        assessed against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding  | 
      
      
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        instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. | 
      
      
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               (b)  The amendment to Section 1-a(8), Article V, of this  | 
      
      
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        constitution takes effect January 1, 2014, and applies only to a  | 
      
      
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        formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial  | 
      
      
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        Conduct on or after that date. | 
      
      
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               (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2016. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be  | 
      
      
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        submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013.   | 
      
      
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        The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the  | 
      
      
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        proposition:  "The constitutional amendment relating to the  | 
      
      
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        sanctions that may be assessed against a judge or justice following  | 
      
      
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        a formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial  | 
      
      
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        Conduct." | 
      
      
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