J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     1199

CHAPTER 773
(House Bill 21)

AN ACT to propose an amendment to Article IV of the Constitution
of Maryland, title "Judiciary Department," subtitle "Part I—
General Provisions," by adding new Sections 4A and 4B thereto,
to follow immediately after Section 4 thereof, creating a Commis-
sion on Judicial Disabilities, providing for its members, powers
and duties, relating generally to the early retirement and removal
of judges, as therein defined, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION, and sub-
mitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the State for
their adoption or rejection.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
(three-fifths of all of the members elected to each of the two
Houses concurring), that the following sections be, and the same
are hereby proposed as an amendment to Article IV of the Con-
stitution of Maryland, title "Judiciary Department," subtitle "Part
I—General Provisions," by adding new Sections 4A and 4B thereto,
to follow immediately after Section 4 thereof, the same, if adopted
by the legal and qualified voters of the State, as herein provided, to
become a part of the Constitution of Maryland:

4A.

    (a) There is created a Commission on Judicial Disabilities, com-

posed of five members: (i) three members shall be appointed be the

Court of Appeals from among the judges of the Circuit Court for
the Counties and the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City; (ii) one

member, who shall be actively engaged in the practice of law, who

shall have been so engaged for at least fifteen years, and who is

not a judge of any court, shall be appointed by the Executive Council

of the Maryland State Bar Association from among the resident

members of said Association; and (iii) one member who is a

citizen and resident of this State , who is not a judge, active or

retired, and who is not admitted to the practice of law in any

jurisdiction, shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the

advice and consent of the Senate. The term of office of each

member shall be for four years, commencing on January 1, except
that, of those judges first appointed, the Court of Appeals shall desig-

nate one whose term shall expire December 31, 1969, another

for a term expiring on December 31, 1970, and a third for a term

expiring on December 31, 1971. Whenever a member appointed

under subdivision (i) ceases to be a judge of the court from which

he was selected, or whenever the member appointed under sub-

division (ii) becomes a judge or ceases to be a resident member of

the Maryland State Bar Association, or whenever the member

appointed under subdivision (iii) becomes a judge of any court or

is admitted to the practice of law in any jurisdiction, or ceases to

be a resident of this State, the membership of such member shall
forthwith terminate. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be
filled for the unexpired term by the respective appointing authority,
subject to the same qualifications. If a vacancy in the office appointed
by the Governor occurs when the General Assembly is not in

session, the Governor may issue an interim commission which shall