1430

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 542

are hereby proposed as an addition to the Constitution of
Maryland by adding new [[Section]] Sections 21 and 21A to
Article IV - Judiciary Department, of the Constitution of
Maryland, the same, if adopted by the legally qualified
voters of the State, as herein provided, to become a part
of the Constitution of Maryland;

Article IV — Judiciary Department

21-

(A)    SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (B)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL DETERMINE BY LAW THE NUMBER OF
JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN EACH COUNTY AND CIRCUIT.
THESE JUDGES SHALL BE SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTIONS 3 AND 5 OF THIS ARTICLE.

(B)    THESE SHALL BE AT LEAST FOUR CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGES RESIDENT IN EACH CIRCUIT, AND AT LEAST ONE CIRCUIT
COURT JUDGE SHALL BE RESIDENT IN EACH COUNTY. THERE
SHALL BE AT LEAST TWO SUCH JUDGES RESIDENT IN ANNE
ARUNDEL COUNTY, AT LEAST THREE RESIDENT IN BALTIMORE
COUNTY, AT LEAST FOUR RESIDENT IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY,
AND AT LEAST FIVE RESIDENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

(C)    THE SENIOR JUDGE IN LENGTH OF SERVICE IN EACH
CIRCUIT SHALL BE THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT. THE
OTHER JUDGES SHALL BE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

(D)    EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, ONE JUDGE
SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF ANY
BUSINESS.

(E)    THE TERMS OF THE CIRCUIT COURTS SHALL BE
DETERMINED BY LAW.

(F)    A PERSON IS NOT INELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT OR
ELECTION AS A JUDGE BECAUSE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT A TIME WHEN THE NUMBER OR SALARY OF
JUDGES WERE INCREASED OR DECREASED.

21A.

IF THE AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 3 AND 21 OF ARTICLE IV
PROPOSED BY HOUSE BILL 972, SENATE BILL 390 (1976) AND
THE AMENDMENTS TO THOSE SECTIONS PROPOSED BY HOUSE BILL
1048 (1976) ARE RATIFIED BY THE VOTERS AT THE ELECTION IN
NOVEMBER 1976, THE AMENDMENTS TO THOSE SECTIONS PROPOSED
IN HOUSE BILL 972, SENATE BILL 390 (1976) SHALL TAKE
EFFECT.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the
aforegoing section hereby proposed as an amendment to the
Constitution of Maryland, at the next general election to
be held in this State in November, 1976, shall be
submitted to the legal and qualified voters thereof for