Amador Ledger-Dispatch, 16 December 1904 — APPOINTMENT HOLDS FOR TWO YEARS. [ARTICLE]

APPOINTMENT HOLDS FOR TWO YEARS.

There seems to be some difference of opinion in regard to the length of time that the governor's appointees of justices of district courts of appeal will hold office. The full term of such justices is 12 years.

Somehow an impression prevails

that in starting the machinery of . these appellate courts the governor's appointees will hold for a full term, just the same as though the justice held by vote of the people. This is

incorrect. The amendment that was

ratified and by virtue of which these courts are established, clearly states the length of the appointive term as follows: Upon the ratification by the people of this amendment the governor shall appoint nine persons to serve as justices of the district courts of appeal until the first Monday after the first day of January in the year 1807, provided that not more than six of said persons shall be members of the same political party. At the election in the year 1906 nine of such justices shall be elected as above provided, and the justices of each district court of appeal shall so classify themselves by lot that one of them shall go out of office at the end of four years, one of them at the end of eight years,, and one of them at the end of twelve years. From this it will be seen that all district judges of the supreme court will hold office only for two years, or until the first week in January, 1907. These judiciary positions will have to be filled by election of the people at the general election to be held in 1906.