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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: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures
The following is a list of state ballot measures related to state judicial authority certified for this year and future elections:

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

2012

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

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

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

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. Utah Proposition 6, Permit the Legislature to Authorize State Courts to Review State Tax Commission Decisions Amendment (1998) Approved

1997

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

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 Initiative 593, Life Sentencing for Three Serious Offense Convictions Measure (1993) Approved

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

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

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. Vermont Imposition of Bail for Criminal Offenses Amendment (1982) Approved

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

1978

  1. Michigan Proposal K, Denial of Bail Amendment (1978) Approved
  2. 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

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. North Dakota Judiciary Article Referendum, Amendment 3 (1976) Approved

1975

  1. Kentucky Judicial Branch Restructuring Referendum (1975) Approved

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

1972

  1. Maryland Harford County Orphans' Court, Question 11 (1972) Approved
  2. 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

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

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

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

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. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 District Judges on the Supreme Bench, Amendment 3 (1876) Approved

1875

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

1857

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

See also

Footnotes

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