House Concurrent Resolution 55

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 154, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT TRIAL JUDGES SHALL BE ATTORNEYS.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend Section 154, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 154. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the circuit court or of the chancery court who shall not have * * * attained the age of twenty-six (26) years, and who shall not have been five (5) years a citizen of this state."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2004, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment will remove the requirement that trial judges shall be attorneys."