MarylandCommission chair could arrange temporary members during vacancies
If voters approve the proposed amendment, the Commission chair could arrange temporary members or term extensions when vacancies or conflicts prevent members from serving.
What it does
Chapters 848 and 849 of the 2025 Acts would be withdrawn and repealed.
During a recusal, disqualification, or unfilled expired term, the chair could recall a former member or request a temporary substitute or term extension, subject to voter approval.
Argument forTemporary members could help the Commission continue handling judicial-conduct matters when a member cannot serve or a replacement is delayed.
Argument againstAllowing temporary substitutes or term extensions could let unelected appointments continue longer while the State waits for permanent replacements.
More detail
The measure would withdraw and repeal Chapters 848 and 849 of the 2025 Acts. The repeal covers those two 2025 Acts concerning temporary appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities.
The Commission chair could recall a former member or ask the Governor to appoint a temporary substitute or extend a current member’s term. This would apply when a Commission member must recuse or is disqualified, or when the member’s term expires before a replacement is appointed. The Governor may act on the chair’s request but would not be required to do so. A temporary substitute must meet the qualifications that applied to the member being replaced, may not have been rejected by the Senate, and must be a Maryland lawyer in good standing if the substitute is a judge or attorney. The Governor could appoint a substitute for a specified period or extend the current member’s term until a replacement is appointed, if voters approve the proposed constitutional amendment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 31Assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum - Chapter 878Latest
- Apr 10Returned Passed
- Apr 10Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Apr 8Favorable Adopted Second Reading PassedMinor
- Apr 8Favorable Report by JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 26Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m.
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Const). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 21Referred JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 20Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 19Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 19Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Mar 19Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial ProceedingsMinor
- Mar 5
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Const). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6First Reading Judicial ProceedingsIntroduced
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