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State judicial authority ballot measures

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As a state ballot measure topic, state judicial authority refers to measures regarding the powers and jurisdiction of state courts, including judicial review, authority over specific legal issues, and the courts’ role in interpreting laws. The topic is grouped within the governance policy area.

This page provides information on:

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures
The following is a list of state ballot measures related to state judicial authority certified for this year and future elections:

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

List of ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to state judicial authority, organized by year or state.

2025

  1. Louisiana Amendment 1, Allow Legislature to Create Trial Courts of Specialized Jurisdiction and Provide Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction to Discipline Out-of-State Lawyers Amendment (March 2025) Defeated

2024

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

2020

  1. Georgia Amendment 2, Allow Residents to Seek Declaratory Relief from Certain Laws Amendment (2020) Approved

2014

  1. Nevada Creation of a State Intermediate Appellate Court, Question 1 (2014) Approved

2012

  1. Hawaii Appointment of Retired Judges Amendment (2012) Defeated

2010

  1. Nevada Question 2, Appellate Court Amendment (2010) Defeated
  2. Washington Judge Bail Authority Amendment, HJR 4220 (2010) Approved

2006

  1. Nebraska Amendment 4, Authorize Executive and Judicial Departments to Supervise Parolees Measure (2006) Approved

2004

  1. Georgia Amendment 2, State Supreme Court Jurisdiction Measure (2004) Approved
  2. New Hampshire Court Practices and Procedure Amendment (2004) Defeated
  3. North Carolina Court of Justice Terms Amendment (2004) Approved

2002

  1. Kentucky Proposed Family Court Amendment, Amendment 1 (2002) Approved
  2. Maryland District Court Commissioners Powers and Duties, Question 1 (2002) Approved
  3. Tennessee Fine Limits, Amendment 2 (2002) Defeated
  4. Virginia Question 1, Actual Innocence Claims Amendment (2002) Approved

2001

  1. Washington Engrossed SJR 8208, Temporary Superior Court Judges Amendment (2001) Approved

2000

  1. Rhode Island Co-Equal Branches of Government Act, Question 6 (2000) Approved

1999

  1. New York Amendment 1, Temporary Assignment of City Court Judges to County Courts Amendment (1999) Approved

1998

  1. Maryland Retired Judges Assignment, Question 2 (1998) Approved
  2. Nevada Question 3, Designation of District Court Location Amendment (1998) Approved
  3. Utah Proposition 6, Permit the Legislature to Authorize State Courts to Review State Tax Commission Decisions Amendment (1998) Approved
  4. Virginia Question 2, Confidentiality of Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission Proceedings Amendment (1998) Approved

1997

  1. New York Amendment 1, Court Monetary Jurisdiction Amendment (1997) Defeated

1996

  1. Virginia Question 3, Right of Appeal Amendment (1996) Approved

1995

  1. New York Amendment 1, NYC Civil Court and District Court Monetary Jurisdiction Amendment (1995) Defeated

1994

  1. California Proposition 190, Disciplinary Proceedings and Removal of State Judges Amendment (1994) Approved
  2. Nevada Question 1, Judicial Discipline Commission Amendment (1994) Approved
  3. Vermont Limitation of Bail for Criminal Offenses, Proposed Amendment (1994) Approved

1993

  1. Washington HJR 4201, District Court Jurisdiction Amendment (1993) Approved
  2. Washington Initiative 593, Life Sentencing for Three Serious Offense Convictions Measure (1993) Approved

1992

  1. Nevada Question 2, District Courts Writ Authority Amendment (1992) Approved

1991

  1. Washington Substitute HJR 4221, Jurisdiction of the Superior Court Amendment (1991) Defeated

1990

  1. Georgia Amendment 7, Municipal Court Jurisdiction Measure (1990) Approved
  2. Maryland Circuit Court Clerk Governance, Question 2 (1990) Approved
  3. Nebraska Amendment 2, Right to Appeal to Supreme Court and Appellate Courts Measure (1990) Approved
  4. Nevada Question 1, Establishment of Family Court Amendment (1990) Approved

1987

  1. Washington SJR 8207, Retired Judges Case Handling Amendment (1987) Approved

1986

  1. Arkansas Civil Jurisdiction Increase, Proposed Amendment 64 (1986) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 1, Appointment of a Statewide Prosecutor Amendment (1986) Approved
  3. Florida Amendment 4, Supreme Court Advisory Opinions on Initiatives Amendment (1986) Approved
  4. Nevada Question 2, Referees in District Courts Amendment (1986) Approved
  5. Washington SJR 136, Commission on Judicial Conduct Amendment (1986) Approved

1985

  1. New York Amendment 3, Expansion of the Jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals Amendment (1985) Approved

1984

  1. Utah Proposition 3, Revise the Judicial Article Amendment (1984) Approved

1983

  1. New York Amendment 4, Services of Certain Judges and Justices after Retirement Amendment (1983) Defeated
  2. New York Amendment 5, Temporary Assignment of Judges Amendment (1983) Approved
  3. New York Amendment 7, County Courts, District Courts, and NYC Civil Court Jurisdiction Amendment (1983) Defeated

1982

  1. Colorado Amendment No. 3, Commission on Judicial Discipline Amendment (1982) Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 10, Supreme Court Review of Life Imprisonment Measure (1982) Approved
  3. Missouri Amendment 12, Reapportionment Commission Hearings Measure (1982) Approved
  4. North Carolina Supreme Court Review of Utilities Commission Appeals Amendment (June 1982) Approved
  5. Vermont Imposition of Bail for Criminal Offenses Amendment (1982) Approved

1981

  1. Washington SJR 107, Powers of Superior Court Commissioners Amendment (1981) Defeated

1980

  1. Florida Amendment 2, Jurisdiction of the State Supreme Court Amendment (March 1980) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 12, Juvenile Court Case Venues Measure (1980) Approved
  3. Maryland Consolidation of Courts in Baltimore, Question 2 (1980) Approved
  4. Maryland Removal of Cases from Court, Question 3 (1980) Approved
  5. Nevada Question 7, Intermediate Court of Appeals Amendment (1980) Defeated

1978

  1. Michigan Proposal K, Denial of Bail Amendment (1978) Approved
  2. Nevada Question 2, Jurisdiction Limit for Justice Courts Amendment (1978) Approved
  3. New Hampshire Change of Venue in Criminal Trial Amendment (1978) Approved

1977

  1. New York Amendment 4, Jurisdiction of Courts Outside New York City Amendment (1977) Defeated
  2. Washington SJR 113, Expand District Court Jurisdiction Amendment (1977) Approved

1976

  1. Maryland Authority of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Question 11 (1976) Approved
  2. Maryland District Court Jurisdiction, Question 8 (1976) Approved
  3. Missouri Amendment 6, Authority and Jurisdiction of Courts Measure (August 1976) Approved
  4. Nevada Question 4, Suspended Sentences by State Courts Amendment (1976) Defeated
  5. Nevada Question 6, Central Administration of the Court System Amendment (1976) Approved
  6. Nevada Question 9, Supreme Court Oral Argument Amendment (1976) Approved
  7. North Dakota Judiciary Article Referendum, Amendment 3 (1976) Approved

1975

  1. Kentucky Judicial Branch Restructuring Referendum (1975) Approved
  2. Washington SJR 101, State Judiciary Revision Amendment (1975) Defeated

1974

  1. California Proposition 7, Revisions to State Constitution’s Declaration of Rights Amendment (1974) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 4, Office and Court of Ordinary Measure (1974) Approved
  3. Vermont Creation of a Unified Judicial System Amendment (1974) Approved

1973

  1. New York Amendment 4, Salaries and Terms of District Judges Amendment (1973) Defeated
  2. New York Amendment 6, Jurisdiction of the Custody of Minors Amendment (1973) Approved

1972

  1. Maryland Harford County Orphans' Court, Question 11 (1972) Approved
  2. Nebraska Amendment 7, Supreme Court Budget Amendment (May 1972) Approved
  3. South Dakota Amendment C, Judicial Reorganization Measure (1972) Approved

1970

  1. Florida Amendment 3, Judicial Department Amendment (1970) Defeated
  2. Maryland Judicial Powers and Duties, Question 2 (1970) Approved
  3. Missouri Amendment 3, Jurisdiction of Courts Measure (August 1970) Approved
  4. Nebraska Amendment 9, Administration of the Courts Amendment (1970) Approved

1968

  1. Georgia Amendment 13, Justice of the Peace Jurisdiction Measure (1968) Defeated
  2. Missouri Amendment 1, Gubernatorial Line of Succession and Board to Determine Governor's Ability to Serve Measure (August 1968) Approved
  3. Nebraska Amendment 4, Election Contests Jurisdiction Amendment (1968) Approved
  4. North Dakota Judicial Reform Referendum, Number 5 (1968) Defeated

1966

  1. Colorado Referred Law No. 2, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (1966) Defeated
  2. Idaho Retired Justices Authority to Act, SJR 7 (1966) Approved
  3. Maryland Create Intermediate Courts of Appeal, Amendment 7 (1966) Approved
  4. Maryland Removal of Deputy Clerks in Washington County, Amendment 10 (1966) Defeated
  5. North Dakota Constitutional Revision Referendum, Number 4 (1966) Defeated

1965

  1. New York Amendment 7, Allowing Former Judges to Join the State Supreme Court Amendment (1965) Defeated

1964

  1. Florida Amendment 9, Civil Trials at Branch Courthouse in Dade County (1964) Approved
  2. Maine Question 2, State Legislator Oaths in Absence of Governor Amendment (1964) Approved
  3. Maine Question 5, Judicial Power Article Amendment (1964) Approved
  4. Massachusetts Question 4, Allow Governor or Executive Council to Request Legal Opinions from Supreme Judicial Court Amendment (1964) Approved

1962

  1. Florida Amendment 4, Civil Jury Trials in Pasco County Amendment (1962) Approved
  2. Maryland Municipal Court of Baltimore, Amendment 9 (1962) Approved
  3. North Carolina Judiciary Organization Amendment (1962) Approved
  4. Washington HJR 6, Temporary Judicial Duties Amendment (1962) Approved

1960

  1. Florida Amendment 5, Civil Jury Trials and Administration of the Court System Amendment (1960) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 6, Civil Jury Trials in Brevard County Amendment (1960) Approved

1958

  1. Georgia Amendment 13, Judges Emeritus on Atlanta Judicial Circuit Amendment (1958) Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 8, Judges Emeritus Amendment (1958) Approved
  3. North Carolina Justice of the Peace Jurisdiction Amendment (1958) Defeated

1956

  1. Florida Amendment 1, Revision of the Court System Amendment (1956) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 1, Judicial Review of Juvenile Court Decisions Amendment (1956) Approved
  3. Georgia Amendment 6, Presiding Judges Emeritus Amendment (1956) Approved
  4. Idaho Powers of Justice of the Peace, SJR 5 (1956) Approved
  5. Idaho Powers of Probate Courts, SJR 4 (1956) Approved
  6. Minnesota Reorganization of Judicial Power, Amendment 1 (1956) Approved
  7. North Dakota Publication Supreme Court Decisions, Referendum 2 (1956) Defeated

1955

  1. New York Amendment 8, Rules for Holding Public Office Amendment (1955) Approved

1954

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

1952

  1. Florida Amendment 10, Escambia County Court System Amendment (1952) Defeated
  2. Florida Amendment 2, State Judiciary Amendment (1952) Defeated
  3. Florida Amendment 4, Additional Circuit Judges for the Second Judicial Circuit Amendment (1952) Defeated
  4. Florida Amendment 8, Dade County Solicitor Amendment (1952) Defeated
  5. Minnesota Extend Probate Jurisdiction, Amendment 4 (1952) Defeated
  6. Washington HJR 13, Superior Court Jurisdiction Amendment (1952) Approved

1950

  1. Florida Amendment 4, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Amendment (1950) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 5, Additional County Judges Amendment (1950) Approved
  3. Georgia Amendment 8, Pro Hac Vice Judges Measure (1950) Approved
  4. Nevada Question 1, State Judges Eligibility for Nonjudicial Office Amendment (1950) Approved
  5. Nevada Question 3, Criminal Sentencing Amendment (1950) Approved
  6. North Carolina Judicial Assignment and Special Court Jurisdiction Amendment (1950) Approved

1944

  1. Florida Amendment 3, Justice of Peace Districts Amendment (1944) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 4, Elective Judicial Positions Amendment (1944) Approved

1943

  1. Georgia Amendment 13, Disposition of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Cases Measure (August 1943) Approved
  2. New York Amendment 6, Court of Appeals Amendment (1943) Approved

1942

  1. Arkansas Prohibit Unauthorized Practice of Law, Referred Act No. 135 (1942) Defeated
  2. Florida Amendment 4, Election of Circuit Judges Amendment (1942) Approved
  3. Florida Amendment 8, Garnishment of Wages for Debt Obligations Amendment (1942) Defeated

1941

  1. Georgia Amendment 20, Justice Court Jurisdiction Measure (June 1941) Approved

1940

  1. Florida State Supreme Court Amendment (1940) Approved
  2. Maryland Clerk of the Court of Appeals Appointment, Amendment 1 (1940) Approved

1939

  1. Georgia Amendment 6, Hearings During Judicial Vacation Measure (June 1939) Approved
  2. Michigan Proposal No. 2, Powers of Circuit Court Commissioners Amendment (April 1939) Defeated

1938

  1. Arkansas Chancery and Probate Matters, Proposed Amendment 24 (1938) Approved
  2. Arkansas Regulate Practice of Law, Proposed Amendment 31 (1938) Approved
  3. California Proposition 16, Retired Judicial Officers Amendment (1938) Defeated
  4. New York Amendment 5, Judiciary Article Amendment (1938) Defeated

1937

  1. New York Amendment 5, Jurisdiction and Powers of the City Court of NYC Amendment (1937) Defeated
  2. New York Amendment 6, Jurisdiction and Powers of the Municipal Court of NYC Amendment (1937) Defeated

1936

  1. Georgia Amendment 5, Disposition of Supreme Court Cases Measure (1936) Approved
  2. Idaho Enlarge Jurisdiction of Supreme Court, HJR 1 (1936) Approved

1934

  1. Florida Amendment 1, Judicial Circuit Amendment (1934) Approved
  2. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace Amendment (1934) Defeated

1932

  1. Florida State Supreme Court Amendment (1932) Defeated
  2. Washington SJR 11, Monetary Amount and Property Value Requirements for State Supreme Court Jurisdiction in Civil Cases Amendment (1932) Defeated

1924

  1. Missouri Amendment 1, Supreme Court Salaries and Procedures Measure (1924) Defeated
  2. Missouri Amendment 7, Judicial Council and Court Reorganization Measure (February 1924) Defeated

1922

  1. Florida Additional Circuit Court Judges Amendment (1922) Approved
  2. Missouri Proposition 14, Laws Governing Local Justices of the Peace and Constables Referendum (1922) Defeated

1921

  1. North Dakota County Officials Referendum (1921) Defeated

1920

  1. Idaho Supreme Court Public Utilities Jurisdiction, HJR 8 (1920) Approved
  2. Nebraska Amendment 16, Supreme Court Agreement Amendment (September 1920) Approved
  3. Nevada State Question 1, Supreme Court Judges and Hearings Amendment (1920) Approved

1918

  1. North Dakota Supreme Court Requirements to Declare Laws Unconstitutional Referendum (1918) Approved

1916

  1. Minnesota Number of Supreme Court Justices, Amendment 4 (1916) Defeated

1914

  1. Florida Court System Amendment (1914) Approved

1913

  1. Maryland Amend Section 21 of Article 4 of the Constitution, Amendment 3 (1913) Approved

1912

  1. Florida Extra Judge for Duval County Amendment (1912) Approved
  2. Ohio Additional Removal Process for Officials Accused of Misconduct or Moral Turpitude Amendment (September 1912) Approved

1911

  1. New York Amendment 2, Justices of the Appellate Division Amendment (1911) Defeated

1910

  1. Florida Establishment of Courts Amendment (1910) Approved
  2. Idaho Authorize Supreme Court to Call a District Judge to Sit, SJR 7 (1910) Approved

1908

  1. Florida Additional Judicial Circuits Amendment (1908) Defeated
  2. Florida Judicial Salaries Amendment (1908) Defeated
  3. Idaho Abolish Probate Court, HJR 3 (1908) Approved

1906

  1. Florida Court of Record in Escambia County Amendment (1906) Defeated

1904

  1. Florida County Court Systems Amendment (1904) Defeated
  2. Florida State Judicial System Amendment (1904) Defeated
  3. Florida Supreme Court Decisions Amendment (1904) Defeated

1902

  1. Florida Changes to State Supreme Court Amendment (1902) Approved
  2. Florida Judicial Circuits Amendment (1902) Approved

1899

  1. New York Amendment 3, Reorganization and Authority of the Appellate Division Amendment (1899) Approved
  2. New York Amendment 4, Court of Appeals Amendment 4 (1899) Approved

1898

  1. Montana Use of District Court Judges, Amendment 2 (1898) Approved
  2. Utah Amendment 4, Permit Appeal of Rulings in District Courts Measure (1898) Defeated

1896

  1. Nebraska Amendment 4, Judicial Power Measure (1896) Defeated
  2. Nebraska Amendment 5, Authority to Increase Number of Judges Measure (1896) Defeated

1894

  1. New York Amendment 1, County Judges in Kings County Amendment (1894) Approved

1893

  1. Michigan Circuit Court Jurisdiction and Writ Authority Amendment (April 1893) Approved

1881

  1. Michigan Allow the Supreme Court to Appoint Clerk Amendment (April 1881) Approved

1877

  1. Ohio Court System Reorganization, Amendment 1 (October 1877) Defeated

1876

  1. Minnesota Amendment 3, Authorizing District Judges on the Supreme Bench Measure (1876) Approved

1875

  1. Maryland Amend Article 4, Section 8 of the Constitution, Amendment 1 (1875) Approved

1872

  1. New York Amendment 1, Commission of Appeals Amendment (1872) Approved

1868

  1. Minnesota Amendment 2, Abolish Requirement of Grand Jury Measure (1868) Defeated

1857

  1. Ohio District Courts, Amendment 2 (October 1857) Defeated

See also

Footnotes

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