California Proposition 191, Elimination of Justice Courts (1994)

California Proposition 191 was on the November 8, 1994 general election ballot in California as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved.

Proposition 191 amended the California Constitution to eliminate justice courts. Under Prop 191, all justice courts became municipal courts and all justice court judges became full-time municipal court judges. The amendment was effective on January 1, 1995.

Election results

Proposition 191
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		4,414,652	61.1%
No		2,816,425	38.9%

Constitutional changes

Proposition 191 amended the California Constitution as follows:

• Amended Section 1 of Article VI.
• Amended Section 5 of Article VI.
• Amended Section 6 of Article VI.
• Amended Section 11 of Article VI.
• Amended Section 15 of Article VI.

Text of measure

The ballot title was:

Justice Courts. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

The ballot summary was:

• Effective January 1, 1995, eliminates justice courts; elevates existing justice courts to municipal courts; and unifies justice courts within municipal courts. Continues number, qualifications, compensation of judges and personnel, until modified by Legislature.
• Authorizes Legislature to provide for organization and jurisdiction of municipal courts, and to prescribe number, qualifications and compensation of municipal court judges, staff.
• Makes conforming changes to composition of Judicial Council, appellate jurisdiction of Superior Court.

The fiscal estimate provided by the California Legislative Analyst's Office said:

• Probably no significant fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Path to the ballot

The California State Legislature voted to put Proposition 191 on the ballot via Senate Constitutional Amendment 7.

Votes in legislature to refer to ballot
Chamber	Ayes	Noes
Assembly	79	0
Senate	39	0

External links

• Statement of vote, California November 8, 1994 statewide elections
• Los Angeles Law Library, 1994 ballot propositions
• November 8, 1994 supplemental ballot proposition voter guide