Florida Supreme Court justices and appeals-court judges would be limited to two full terms in office under a proposed constitutional amendment approved by a House subcommittee.

The proposal (HJR 197), which would limit most justices and judges to less than 15 years in office, passed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on an 8-5 vote Tuesday. Rep. George Moraitis, R-Fort Lauderdale, joined the panel's four Democrats in voting against the measure.

Under the proposal, members of the Supreme Court and District Courts of Appeal would be limited to two full six-year terms, though tenures would likely be longer than that because jurists are appointed to partial terms before facing voters in retention elections. No current member of the bench would be affected, and trial-court judges would not face term limits.