The strength of a constitution is its resistance to change. Sometimes that’s its weakness, too. It’s resistant to change, even when the change is a mere technicality.

Hence, an issue as mundane as Senate Joint Resolution 8207 assumes the gravity of a constitutional amendment and winds up on the Washington state ballot where only the voters can adopt it.

SJR 8207 makes a minor change in the makeup of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which handles ethical complaints against judges. At present, one of the 11 members must be a District Court judge. Other levels of the judiciary are represented, too, along with a specified number of lawyers and lay persons.

If SJR 8207 passes, the spot reserved for a District Court judge would be expanded to include municipal courts, which in some communities are branches of the District Court, but in others are separate city courts. Spokane is considering such a change. By substituting “limited jurisdiction court” for “District Court,” SJR 8207 would cover both judicial structures and bring the language of the Constitution in line with the reality of our judicial system.

The Legislature sent SJR 8207 to the ballot by votes of 46-0 in the Senate and 90-2 in the House. Voters, understandably hesitant to amend the state Constitution without a good reason, can approve this measure with confidence that they have one.