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Texas Proposition 12 (2025): S.J.R. 27

Texas constitutional amendment · voted on 2025-11-04 · Result: Passed

texasconstitutional-amendment

What does this mean?

Official ballot language

The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.

Plain summary

S.J.R. 27, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, proposes to amend the Texas Constitution to modify the composition of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to consist of a majority of citizens appointed by the governor, eliminating the appointment of two attorneys by the State Bar of Texas, and to eliminate the selection by lot of members of a tribunal of appellate judges tasked with reviewing the commission's recommendations regarding a complaint of misconduct against a Texas judge or justice. Additionally, S.J.R. 27 proposes to amend the Texas Constitution to permit the commission to issue a private sanction against a judge or justice only if the judge or justice has not been previously sanctioned and the allegations do not include criminal conduct, and to clarify the discretion of the commission to recommend the removal or retirement of a judge or justice. The proposed amendment also clarifies the circumstances under which the commission is authorized or required to suspend a judge or justice from office.

Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71, quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “For” vote

Adds this amendment to the Texas Constitution: the constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.

A “Against” vote

The Texas Constitution is not changed by this proposition; current provisions stay as they are.

Ballot language as certified (Texas Legislative Council analysis). A constitutional amendment takes effect only if a majority of voters approve it.

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

What This Measure Would Do

This measure would change some rules about how the State Commission on Judicial Conduct works. It would make sure that most of its members are chosen by the governor, rather than having two attorneys picked by the State Bar of Texas. The commission's role is to deal with judges and justices who might be misbehaving.

What a 'For' Vote Means

If you vote "For" this measure, it will become part of the Texas Constitution. This means that the changes mentioned above would take effect, changing how the State Commission on Judicial Conduct works.

What a 'Against' Vote Means

If you vote "Against" this measure, nothing in the Texas Constitution would change. The current rules and procedures for dealing with judges and justices who might be misbehaving would stay the same.

Words That May Be Confusing, Explained

* "Sanction": This means a penalty or punishment given to someone who has broken the rules.

* "Tribunal": This is a group of people who review the commission's recommendations about whether a judge or justice should be punished for misbehaving.

Written by a computer model (llama3.1:8b, run on our own server) on Tue Nov 3 from the official text and nonpartisan summary only. It is not a source and takes no side. If it differs from the official text, the official text is right.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

The proposed amendment would promote transparency and accountability in the state's judicial system by reforming the composition and authority of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC), which was created to promote the integrity, competence, and impartiality of the judiciary.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

The SCJC has not sufficiently protected the rights of Texas citizens who have experienced the consequences of abuses of judicial power and failures of competency. Complaints often go unresolved for extended periods of time, and judges do not face discipline for wrongdoing. The proposed amendment would institute commonsense reforms that would allow judicial misconduct to be addressed fairly and swiftly.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

The proposed amendment would improve transparency by restricting the option for the SCJC to issue private sanctions and would include more public representation on the SCJC to increase independence and fairness in judicial oversight.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

Arguments against (opponents)

The reorganization of the SCJC's composition would have the governor appointing a greater number of commissioners than the Texas Supreme Court, even though the SCJC serves as part of the judicial branch. This could create an opportunity for more politicization and partisanship in the judicial discipline process.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

Since many complaints about judges relate to their actions in trial, a majority of the SCJC commissioners should be judges or justices since these individuals will be best equipped to assess the actions of their peers.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 71

Summary of comments made in committee, floor debate, or the House Research Organization analysis, as published by the Texas Legislative Council. Shown in the order published, not ranked by us.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Result

For1,796,384
Against1,105,659
Percent for61.9%

Source: Texas Secretary of State results as reported by Texas Policy Research (confirm at the SOS results site) · official canvass: Texas SOS results

Officials and money

Authors: Huffman · Coauthors: Zaffirini · Sponsors in the other chamber: Leach

Texas legislators are not yet linked to official pages. Bill history and votes on Texas Legislature Online.

Money: Legislative Budget Board fiscal note No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (4)
Constitutional amendment
A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Legislature
The elected body that makes laws. In Texas it has a House of Representatives (150 members) and a Senate (31 members). In Florida it has a House of Representatives (120 members) and a Senate (40 members).
Proposition
The name for a measure on a Texas ballot, numbered Proposition 1, 2, and so on. A "For" vote supports the measure; an "Against" vote opposes it.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record st-tx-2025-prop-12 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002