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Committee approves change requiring probate judge candidates in large counties to submit affidavit of seven years' practice at qualifying
Summary
A committee approved a bill requiring candidates for probate judge in Article 6 counties (population over 90,000) to file an affidavit stating they have practiced law for over seven years at time of qualification; sponsors said the change resolves a discrepancy between the code and probate-court rules.
Judge Goggins (presenting for Tyler Paul Smith) described a bill to clarify qualifications for probate judges in large counties, telling the Judiciary Committee it applies only to Article 6 courts — counties with populations in excess of 90,000. "This only applies to article 6 courts," the presenter said, adding the bill requires an affidavit signed by each candidate for probate judge stating they "have been practicing law for over 7 years, and at the time they qualify, not at the time of the election."
Committee members sought clarification about whether the general rule for other offices requires qualifications at the time of qualifying. One committee member asked, "is that the general rule that qualifications have to be satisfied at the time of qualifying for every other office?" The presenter responded that they were aligning the code and qualifying language.
After no substantive objections, a motion and second were called and the committee approved the bill by voice vote. The chair declared the bill passed.
