Georgia Amendment 4, Suspension of Judges Measure (1986)

Georgia Amendment 4
Election date November 4, 1986
Topic Administration of government and State judiciary
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Georgia Amendment 4 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Georgia on November 4, 1986. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported establishing that a judge convicted of a felony is immediately suspended without compensation, with the possibility of reinstatement and back pay if the conviction is overturned, and provide a procedure for a replacement judge and filling of vacancies.

A "no" vote opposed establishing that a judge convicted of a felony is immediately suspended without compensation, with the possibility of reinstatement and back pay if the conviction is overturned, and provide a procedure for a replacement judge and filling of vacancies.

Election results

Georgia Amendment 4
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		754,351	85.17%
No		131,347	14.83%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Amendment 4 was as follows:

“

Shall the Constitution be amended so as to provide that a judge who is suspended from office shall not receive any compensation after the initial conviction and to provide that if the judge is reinstated to office, he shall be entitled to receive any compensation withheld and to provide that after the initial conviction of a judge for any felony in a trial court of this state or the United States, regardless of whether the judge has been previously suspended, such judge shall be immediately and without further action suspended from office and to provide that such judge shall not be entitled to receive any compensation during such suspension and to provide that if such conviction is overturned the judge shall be reinstated to office and shall receive any compensation withheld and to provide for a replacement judge and the filling of a vacancy and to provide for applicability?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Georgia Constitution

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Georgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in the Georgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in the Georgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1986 Measures

• 1986 Measures
• Administration of government on the ballot
• State judiciary on the ballot
• 1986 legislative sessions

Georgia

• Georgia ballot measures
• Georgia ballot measure laws

News and analysis

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