Page:Colorado State Constitution (2020).pdf/65

 Source: L. 61: Entire article R&RE, effective January 12, 1965, see L. 63, p. 1050. L. 2002: (2) and (3) amended, p. 3094, effective upon proclamation of the Governor, L. 2003, p. 3611, December 20, 2002.

Editor's note: This section is similar to § 11 as it existed prior to 1961.

Section 10.Judicial districts - district judges. (1) The state shall be divided into judicial districts. Such districts shall be formed of compact territory and be bounded by county lines. The judicial districts as provided by law on the effective date of this amendment shall constitute the judicial districts of the state until changed. The general assembly may by law, whenever two-thirds of the members of each house concur therein, change the boundaries of any district or increase or diminish the number of judicial districts.

(2) In each judicial district there shall be one or more judges of the district court. The full term of office of a district judge shall be six years.

(3) The number of district judges provided by law for each district on the effective date of this amendment shall constitute the number of judges for the district until changed. The general assembly may by law, whenever two-thirds of the members of each house concur therein, increase or diminish the number of district judges, except that the office of a district judge may not be abolished until completion of the term for which he was elected or appointed, but he may be required to serve in a judicial district other than the one for which elected, as long as such district encompasses his county of residence.

(4) Separate divisions of district courts may be established in districts by law, or in the absence of any such law, by rule of court.

Source: L. 61: Entire article R&RE, effective January 12, 1965, see L. 63, p. 1051. Initiated 66: (2) amended, effective January 17, 1967, see L. 67, p. 6 of the supplement to the 1967 Session Laws.

Editor's note: (1) The "effective date of this amendment" referred to in subsections (1) and (3) is January 12, 1965.

(2) This section is similar to §§ 12 and 14 as they existed prior to 1961.

(3) For amendments to those sections prior to 1961, see L. 1885, p. 146.

Cross references: For the establishment of judicial districts, see also part 1 of article 5 of title 13; for vacancies in judicial office, see § 20 of this article.

Section 11.Qualifications of district judges. No person shall be eligible to the office of district judge unless he shall be a qualified elector of the judicial district at the time of his election or selection and shall have been licensed to practice law in this state for five years. Each judge of the district court shall be a resident of his district during his term of office.

Source: L. 61: Entire article R&RE, see L. 63, p. 1051.

Editor's note: (1) Voters approved the measure repealing and reenacting this article on November 6, 1962. Section 1 of chapter 313, session laws of Colorado 1963, provided that the Colorado Revised Statutes 2020