Judicial term limits ballot measures

Voters have decided on judicial term limits ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures to limit the number of terms or years that state judges can serve. The topic is grouped within the election policy area.

This page provides information on:

• Related ballot measures
• Upcoming ballot measures
• Comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state

Topic information

• State ballot measure topics
• Local ballot measure topics
• History of ballot measures by topic

Topic path

State ballot measure

Election policy

Term limits

Judicial term limits

Related ballot measures

Related state and local ballot measure topics

State ballot measures

Congressional term limits Executive official term limits Local official term limits State legislative term limits

Local ballot measures

Local term limits

Explore more state ballot measure topics

Scroll to explore topics. Click a topic to view more information.

Budget and tax policy

Economic regulations Banking policy Business regulations Insurance policy Public economic investment policy Tax policy Business taxes Carbon taxes and fees Fees, licenses, and charges Food and beverage taxes Fuel taxes Income taxes Property taxes Property tax exemptions Sales taxes Severance taxes Tobacco and cigarette taxes Budget policy Balanced budget requirements Budget stabilization funds Debt limits Revenue allocation Revenue and spending limits Restricted-use funds Bond issues Bond issue requirements Tax and revenue administration

Criminal justice and law enforcement policy

Civil law and trials Civil trials Tort law Criminal sentences and trials Bail policy Criminal sentencing Criminal trials Death penalty Juvenile criminal justice Parole policy Drug regulations Alcohol laws Drug crime policy Marijuana laws Psychedelic substance laws Smoking bans Tobacco laws Law enforcement and corrections Corrections governance Law enforcement funding Law enforcement officers and departments Prison and jail funding Prison work regulations Crime victims' rights Dueling bans

Education policy

Higher education Higher education funding Higher education governance Public K–12 education Public education funding Public education governance Public school teachers and staff Religion in public schools School class size policy Early childhood education School choice policy

Election policy

Direct democracy Ballot measure supermajority requirements Ballot measure process Initiative and referendum process Recall process Electoral systems Cumulative voting Presidential electoral vote Primary election systems Proportional representation Ranked-choice voting Runoff elections Term limits Congressional term limits Executive official term limits Judicial term limits Local official term limits State legislative term limits Voting policy Absentee and mail voting Citizenship voting requirements Early voting Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements Primary election participation Race and suffrage Residency voting requirements Voter ID policy Voter registration Voting age policy Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions Women's suffrage Age limits for officials Campaign finance Election administration and governance Redistricting policy

Environment and energy policy

Energy policy Carbon emissions regulations Energy conservation and efficiency Energy funds Energy market regulations Energy transmission projects Fossil fuel energy Hydroelectric energy Nuclear energy Solar energy Hunting and fishing Fisheries and fishing regulations Game and fish commissions Hunting regulations Right to hunt and fish Natural disaster policy Earthquake infrastructure Flood infrastructure and management Storm infrastructure Wildfire management Agriculture policy Animal treatment laws Food policy Forestry and timber Mineral resources Parks, land, and natural area conservation Pollution, waste, and recycling policy

Governance policy

Administrative agencies Administrative organization Administrative powers and rulemaking Local government Local government organization Local government officials and elections Local government finance and taxes State constitutions Constitutional rights Constitutional wording changes State constitution ratification State constitutional conventions State executives Executive branch structure State executive elections State executive powers and duties State legislatures State legislative authority State legislative elections State legislative processes and sessions State legislative structure State legislative vote requirements State judiciary State judicial authority State judicial selection State judiciary oversight State judiciary structure Census policy Civil service Ethics rules and commissions Federal government issues Jury rules Impeachment rules Open meetings and public information Salaries of government officials State capitals State flags, symbols, and holidays Statehood Time standards

Infrastructure policy

Housing policy Homestead tax exemptions Housing assistance programs Housing development funding Rent control and regulations Transportation policy Airport infrastructure Highways and bridges Non-motorized transportation Ports and harbors Public transportation Railways Toll roads Transportation taxes and fees Vehicle and driver regulations Water infrastructure Drinking water systems Sewage and stormwater Water irrigation policy Water storage Eminent domain policy Land use and development policy Public land policy Telecommunications infrastructure Utility policy

Labor, healthcare, and public assistance policy

Labor union policy Collective bargaining Labor disputes and strikes Labor union deductions Right-to-work laws Healthcare policy Complementary and alternative healthcare Healthcare facility funding Healthcare governance Private health insurance Public health insurance Vaccinations and disease policy Work regulations Child labor regulations Gender-based labor regulations Minimum wage laws Paid sick leave laws Workers' compensation laws Working hours regulations Public assistance programs Public employee retirement funds Public works labor and contracting

Military and veteran policy

Defense-related funding Government continuity policy Military service policy Military-related advisory questions Nuclear weapons policy State National Guard and militia Veterans policy

Social issue policy

Abortion policy Affirmative action American Indian issues Assisted death policy Athletics and sports English language policy Family-related policy Firearms policy Gambling policy Immigration policy LGBTQ issues Race and ethnicity issues Religion-related policy Sex and gender issues Sexual content regulations Sunday regulations

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2024

1. Arizona Proposition 137, End Term Limits and Retention Elections for Supreme Court Justices and Superior Court Judges Amendment (2024)

2022

1. Wyoming Constitutional Amendment B, Judicial Retirement Age Measure (2022)

2020

1. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, Terms of Judicial Offices Amendment (2020)

2016

1. Alabama Judicial Retirement Measure, Amendment 1 (March 2016)
2. Pennsylvania Judicial Retirement Age Amendment (2016)

2014

1. Hawaii Mandatory Retirement Age for Justices and Judges, Amendment 3 (2014)

2012

1. Arizona Proposition 115, Judicial Terms, Retirement Age, Commission Membership, and Court Decisions Amendment (2012)

2011

1. Ohio Issue 1, Increase Judicial Retirement Age and Eliminate Governor's Power to Appoint Supreme Court Commission Amendment (2011)

2007

1. Texas Proposition 14, Justice Term and Retirement Age Amendment (2007)

2006

1. Hawaii Mandatory Judicial Retirement Act, Amendment 3 (2006)

2002

1. Mississippi Length of Judicial Terms, Amendment 1 (2002)

2001

1. Pennsylvania Question 2, Judicial Retirement Age Date Amendment (May 2001)

1996

1. Nevada Question 9B, Judicial Term Limits Initiative (1996)

1995

1. Mississippi Term Limits, Initiative 4 (1995)

1994

1. Hawaii Judicial Term Limits, Ballot Measure 7 (1994)
2. Nevada Question 9, State and Local Public Officer Term Limits Initiative (1994)

1977

1. Wisconsin Question 5, Retirement Age for Judges and Justices Amendment (April 1977)

1976

1. Maine Question 2, Judicial Term Limits Amendment (1976)
2. Maryland Selection of Court of Appeals Judges, Question 1 (1976)

1972

1. North Carolina Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age Requirement Amendment (1972)

1968

1. Idaho Retirement, Discipline and Removal of Justices and Judges, HJR 5 (1968)
2. Utah Proposition 5, Permit Legislature to Adopt Statutes for Mandatory Retirement of Judges Amendment (1968)

1966

1. New York Amendment 10, Retired Judges to Serve on Court of Appeals Amendment (1966)
2. New York Amendment 11, Allowing Retired Appellate Court Judges to Become Temporary Judges Amendment (1966)

1965

1. New York Amendment 2, Establishing the Term Length for Justices of Town Courts Amendment (1965)
2. New York Amendment 7, Allowing Former Judges to Join the State Supreme Court Amendment (1965)

1962

1. Maryland Municipal Court of Baltimore, Amendment 9 (1962)

1958

1. North Dakota Terms of State and County Offices, Referendum 3 (1958)

1956

1. Georgia Amendment 7, Judicial Terms of Office Amendment (1956)

1954

1. North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Retirement and Temporary Service Amendment (1954)

1952

1. Washington HJR 6, Judge Retirement Age Amendment (1952)

1938

1. New York Amendment 5, Judiciary Article Amendment (1938)

1932

1. Maryland Judge Retirement Age, Amendment 1 (1932)

1930

1. North Dakota District Court Judges Terms Referendum (1930)
2. North Dakota Supreme Court Judges Term Limits Referendum (1930)

1920

1. Colorado Measure 9, County Judges Terms and Salaries Amendment (1920)
2. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 2 (1920)

1916

1. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 8 (1916)

1914

1. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 6 (1914)

1912

1. North Dakota Supreme Court Term Limits Referendum (1912)

1883

1. Minnesota Amendment 4, Establishing Supreme Court Justice Term Limit Measure (1883)
2. Minnesota District Court Justice Term Limit, Amendment 5 (1883)
3. Minnesota Supreme Court Clerk Term Limit, Amendment 3 (1883)

1876

1. Connecticut Question 3, Common Pleas and City Judges Term Length Amendment (1876)
2. Connecticut Question 4, Term Length for Probate Judges Amendment (1876)

1856

1. Connecticut Question 1, Judicial Term Limits and Impeachment Procedures Amendment (1856)

Alabama

1. Alabama Judicial Retirement Measure, Amendment 1 (March 2016)

Arizona

1. Arizona Proposition 115, Judicial Terms, Retirement Age, Commission Membership, and Court Decisions Amendment (2012)
2. Arizona Proposition 137, End Term Limits and Retention Elections for Supreme Court Justices and Superior Court Judges Amendment (2024)

Colorado

1. Colorado Measure 9, County Judges Terms and Salaries Amendment (1920)

Connecticut

1. Connecticut Question 1, Judicial Term Limits and Impeachment Procedures Amendment (1856)
2. Connecticut Question 3, Common Pleas and City Judges Term Length Amendment (1876)
3. Connecticut Question 4, Term Length for Probate Judges Amendment (1876)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 7, Judicial Terms of Office Amendment (1956)

Hawaii

1. Hawaii Judicial Term Limits, Ballot Measure 7 (1994)
2. Hawaii Mandatory Judicial Retirement Act, Amendment 3 (2006)
3. Hawaii Mandatory Retirement Age for Justices and Judges, Amendment 3 (2014)

Idaho

1. Idaho Retirement, Discipline and Removal of Justices and Judges, HJR 5 (1968)

Kentucky

1. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, Terms of Judicial Offices Amendment (2020)

Maine

1. Maine Question 2, Judicial Term Limits Amendment (1976)

Maryland

1. Maryland Judge Retirement Age, Amendment 1 (1932)
2. Maryland Municipal Court of Baltimore, Amendment 9 (1962)
3. Maryland Selection of Court of Appeals Judges, Question 1 (1976)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 4, Establishing Supreme Court Justice Term Limit Measure (1883)
2. Minnesota District Court Justice Term Limit, Amendment 5 (1883)
3. Minnesota Supreme Court Clerk Term Limit, Amendment 3 (1883)
4. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 2 (1920)
5. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 6 (1914)
6. Minnesota Terms of Probate Judges, Amendment 8 (1916)

Mississippi

1. Mississippi Length of Judicial Terms, Amendment 1 (2002)
2. Mississippi Term Limits, Initiative 4 (1995)

Nevada

1. Nevada Question 9, State and Local Public Officer Term Limits Initiative (1994)
2. Nevada Question 9B, Judicial Term Limits Initiative (1996)

New York

1. New York Amendment 10, Retired Judges to Serve on Court of Appeals Amendment (1966)
2. New York Amendment 11, Allowing Retired Appellate Court Judges to Become Temporary Judges Amendment (1966)
3. New York Amendment 2, Establishing the Term Length for Justices of Town Courts Amendment (1965)
4. New York Amendment 5, Judiciary Article Amendment (1938)
5. New York Amendment 7, Allowing Former Judges to Join the State Supreme Court Amendment (1965)

North Carolina

1. North Carolina Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age Requirement Amendment (1972)
2. North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Retirement and Temporary Service Amendment (1954)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota District Court Judges Terms Referendum (1930)
2. North Dakota Supreme Court Judges Term Limits Referendum (1930)
3. North Dakota Supreme Court Term Limits Referendum (1912)
4. North Dakota Terms of State and County Offices, Referendum 3 (1958)

Ohio

1. Ohio Issue 1, Increase Judicial Retirement Age and Eliminate Governor's Power to Appoint Supreme Court Commission Amendment (2011)

Pennsylvania

1. Pennsylvania Judicial Retirement Age Amendment (2016)
2. Pennsylvania Question 2, Judicial Retirement Age Date Amendment (May 2001)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 14, Justice Term and Retirement Age Amendment (2007)

Utah

1. Utah Proposition 5, Permit Legislature to Adopt Statutes for Mandatory Retirement of Judges Amendment (1968)

Washington

1. Washington HJR 6, Judge Retirement Age Amendment (1952)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 5, Retirement Age for Judges and Justices Amendment (April 1977)

Wyoming

1. Wyoming Constitutional Amendment B, Judicial Retirement Age Measure (2022)

See also

State & Local Ballot Measures

Ballotpedia

Measures

• • State ballot measures
• • Local ballot measures
• • Analyses

Topics

• • State ballot measure topics
• • Local ballot measure topics

Laws

• • Laws governing ballot measures
• • Changes to laws governing ballot measures
• • Types of ballot measures
• • Ballot measure policy topics

History

• • Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
• • History of ballot measures by topic

Campaigns

• • Campaign finance
• • Endorsements
• • Polls

Footnotes

State ballot measures

State

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

By year

2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993 • 1992 • 1991 • 1990 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982 • 1981 • 1980 • 1979 • 1978 • 1977 • 1976 • 1975 • 1974 • 1973 • 1972 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1967 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1953 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949 • 1948 • 1947 • 1946 • 1945 • 1944 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 • 1940 • 1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 • 1935 • 1934 • 1933 • 1932 • 1931 • 1930 • 1929 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 • 1925 • 1924 • 1923 • 1922 • 1921 • 1920 • 1919 • 1918 • 1917 • 1916 • 1915 • 1914 • 1913 • 1912 • 1911 • 1910 • 1909 • 1908 • 1907 • 1906 • 1905 • 1904 • 1903 • 1902 • 1901 • 1900