Senators Kill Bills To Elect Judges, Create Legislative Term Limits
But a measure to make the state attorney general an elective position is still moving forward.
Bills to elect judges and limit the number of terms that state lawmakers can serve are likely dead this legislative session. But a measure that would let voters elect the state attorney general is still alive.
The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, chaired by Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran, indefinitely deferred and on Wednesday.
There was strong opposition to SB 2239, introduced by Keith-Agaran and seven other senators. The bill proposed a constitutional amendment requiring judges to be elected to six-year terms instead of being appointed.
Introduced by Sens. Laura Thielen, Russell Ruderman and Lorraine Inouye, SB 2753 proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of聽state lawmakers to a maximum of 12 consecutive years, starting with the聽2020 elections.
Legislative term limits have been discussed for years, but bills have struggled to gain traction. Some observers were surprised Keith-Agaran even gave the bill a hearing.
There were more than three dozen pages of in support, and no opposition. Many highlighted the negative side of “career politicians.”聽Nonetheless, the committee indefinitely deferred the bill.
, also introduced by Keith-Agaran,聽proposes a constitutional amendment to elect the state attorney general. It cleared the Senate last week despite strong opposition from Doug Chin, the current AG, and numerous lawyers.
Sens. Suzanne Chun Oakland, Josh Green, Gil Riviere, Sam Slom and Brian Taniguchi voted against it. The bill will now be considered by the House.
