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Committee approves change requiring probate-judge candidates in large counties to sign 7-year-practice affidavit
Summary
A committee approved a bill to require candidates for probate judge in Article 6 counties (population over 90,000) to sign an affidavit that they have practiced law at least seven years at the time of qualifying.
Judge Goggins presented a bill amending probate-judge qualifications for Article 6 counties, saying the change will require candidates to submit an affidavit that they have practiced law for more than seven years at the time they qualify for office. "There's an affidavit that's gonna be required to be signed by every candidate for a probate judge in those particular Article 6 courts ... they have been practicing law for over 7 years, and at the time they qualify, not at the time of the election," Goggins said.
The sponsor said the change reconciles a discrepancy between the statute, which refers to qualifications "upon election," and the probate court rules, which require qualifications "at the time of qualifying." Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether other offices follow the same rule; the sponsor said the code and court rules differed and the bill aligns the two standards.
After brief discussion the committee approved the measure by voice vote. The transcript records no roll-call tally; no amendments were recorded.
Votes at a glance: Probate qualifications bill — passed by voice vote; affidavit requiring seven years of practice to be signed at qualification for Article 6 probate courts.
