SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6518

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004

Title: An act relating to the general election ballot for the office of judge of the district court.

Brief Description: Changing the general election ballot for the office of judge of the district court.

Sponsors: Senator McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 2/4/04 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 44-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Esser, Vice Chair; Brandland, Haugen, Kline and Thibaudeau.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

      Signed by Senator Roach.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background: When a primary election is held for a nonpartisan office, the names of the candidates who placed first and second appear on the general election ballot in the order in which they placed during the primary election. No candidate's name appears on the general election ballot unless he or she receives at least 1 percent of the vote. If, during the primary election for the office of: Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of Appeals, Judge of the Superior Court, or Superintendent of Public Instruction, a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, only the name of that candidate is printed on the general election ballot.

Summary of Bill: If, during the primary election for the office of Judge of the District Court, a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, only the name of that candidate is printed on the general election ballot.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.

Testimony For: This is unfair because these judges should be treated the same as the other judges.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Senator McCaslin, prime sponsor.