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Wisconsin Question 4, Court System Disciplinary Proceedings Amendment (April 1977)
| Wisconsin Question 4 | |
|---|---|
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| Election date |
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| Topic State judiciary |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
Origin |
Wisconsin Question 4 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Wisconsin on April 5, 1977. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported amending the constitution to create a disciplinary system for judges and justices in Wisconsin under the authority of the state Supreme Court. |
A "no" vote opposed amending the constitution to create a disciplinary system for judges and justices in Wisconsin under the authority of the state Supreme Court. |
Election results
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Wisconsin Question 4 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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565,087 | 78.87% | ||
| No | 151,418 | 21.13% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 4 was as follows:
| “ | Court system disciplinary proceedings. Shall section 13 of article VII of the constitution be amended; and shall section 11 of article VII of the constitution be created, to authorize the supreme court to discipline, suspend, or remove a justice or judge for cause in accordance with procedures established by the legislature by law? | ” |
Constitutional changes
Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
SECTION 11. [Repealed] The supreme court shall hold at least one term annually, at the seat of government of the state, at such time as shall be provided by law. And the legislature may provide for holding other terms and at other places when they may deem it necessary. A circuit court shall be held at least twice in each year in each county of this state organized for judicial purposes. The judges of the circuit court may hold courts for each other, and shall do so when required by law.
Disciplinary proceedings. SECTION 11. Each justice or judge shall be subject to reprimand, censure, suspension, removal for cause or for disability, by the supreme court pursuant to procedures established by the legislature by law. No justice or judge removed for cause shall be eligible for reappointment or temporary service. This section is alternative to, and cumulative with, the methods of removal provided in sections 1 and 13 of this article and section 12 of article XIII.
Justices and judges: removal by address.. SECTION 13. Any justice or judge of the supreme or circuit court may be removed from office by address of both houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to each house concur therein, but no removal shall be made by virtue of this section unless the justice or judge complained of shall have been is served with a copy of the charges against him, as the ground of address, and shall have has had an opportunity of being heard in his defense. On the question of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals.
[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Wisconsin Constitution
A simple majority vote is required during two legislative sessions for the Wisconsin State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 50 votes in the Wisconsin State Assembly and 17 votes in the Wisconsin State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
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State of Wisconsin Madison (capital) |
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