Each Judge of the Court of Civil Appeals elected before or after the passage of this act shall, unless removed for cause, serve out the term for which he or she is elected and those Judges serving at the date of the passage of this act, whose office comes under the provision of this act on the date of the expiration of the term, shall be deemed to have been appointed as provided herein and eligible to file a declaration of candidacy to succeed themselves as provided in this act. If retained in office, the term of each such Judge shall be six (6) years commencing the second Monday in January following the election.
The term and election of each Judge appointed to fill a vacancy after the passage of this act shall be as follows: If the appointed Judge has served or will have served twelve (12) months on or before the next General Election following appointment, he or she may file for election for the remainder of the term for which he or she was appointed, or for a six-year term, whichever is applicable, within the time and in the manner elected Judges file their candidacy under this act. If the appointed Judge has not served or will not have served twelve (12) months on or before the next General Election following appointment, he or she shall continue in office until the second General Election following appointment and may file for election for the remainder of the term or for a six-year term, whichever is applicable, as herein provided.
Added by Laws 1987, c. 33, § 4, emerg. eff. April 20, 1987. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 97, § 14, eff. Nov. 1, 1996.