Opinion ID: 1755033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 42

Heading: Has the Electorate Been Disenfranchised?

Text: No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined. Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17, 84 S.Ct. 526, 535, 11 L.Ed.2d 481 (1964). The right to vote freely for the candidate of one's choice is of the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government. Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 555, 84 S.Ct. 1362, 1378, 12 L.Ed.2d 506 (1964). The Texas Bill of Rights recognizes the concept of due process of law and provides: Sec. 19. No citizen of this State shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised, except by the due course of the law of the land. TEX. CONST. art. I, § 19. Inherent is the concept that [t]he faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government. TEX. CONST. art. I, § 2. Thus, we hold sacred the right of the people to vote and the right not to be disenfranchised. The fundamental issue, then, is whether judicial misconduct deemed so severe by an appropriate review tribunal as to require removal or prohibition from holding judicial office serves to disenfranchise the electorate. We find it does not. The Bill of Rights contains some pertinent limitations. Art. I, § 2 reserves to the people the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient. Art. I, § 19 prohibits disenfranchisement except by the due course of the law of the land. Art. V, § 1-a, relating to the retirement, censure, removal, and compensation of justices and judges was initially added to the Texas Constitution in 1948. This provision was amended November 2, 1965, November 3, 1970, November 8, 1977, and November 6, 1984, effective January 1, 1985. Art. XVII, § 1 provides that the Texas Constitution can only be amended by the joint efforts of the State legislature and the qualified voters. A proposed amendment must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of each house. Ratification is then required by a majority of qualified voters casting votes on the issue. Simply stated, the voters of Texas, the electorate itself, has approved this limitation on its ability to elect the judge of its choosing. We find no legal impediment to the Commission's recommendation of prohibition.