Judicial Selection and Administration
How judges are selected and how the judiciary operates can impact the role and effectiveness of state courts. Processes for judicial selection may vary depending on both the level of court (trial, intermediate appellate, high court) and the type of vacancy being filled (interim vacancies or vacancies that open at the end of a judge’s term). The most common methods of state judicial selection are merit selection, which involves vetting of candidates by a nominating commission coupled with a retention election, nonpartisan elections, partisan elections, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative appointment. For a breakdown of each state’s judicial selection process, see this interactive map.
Judicial administration refers to the management of the court system, including judicial ethics, security systems, and access to court documents.
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How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
The Hawaii Constitution: Rooted in Culture and ‘Āina (Land)
With extensive protections for the environment, the Hawaii Constitution is a model for other states’ green amendments and public trust provisions.
A Conversation with New York Judge Wavny Toussaint
The first Trinidadian-American judge elected in New York spoke about mentorship, judicial service, and the impact courts have on everyday New Yorkers.
The Rhode Island Constitution: Royal Charter and a Modern Constitutional Convention
The Ocean State’s constitution is notable for protection of its surrounding waters; an update to the document in the 1980s included more than 40 amendments.
Kentucky’s Constitution: From Open Frontier to Fiercely Independent
The state constitution’s strong separation of powers language was written by Thomas Jefferson; he wished the U.S. Constitution had the same.
Who’s Hiring State Supreme Court Clerks?
State-by-state information to aid law students and young attorneys in securing a state clerkship.
A Conversation with Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch
Justice Elizabeth Welch was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2020 and took the bench in January 2021. In her interview, Welch discusses the challenges of artificial intelligence, Michigan’s protection of natural resources, and the potential value in career disappointments.
The Untold Story of 150 Years of Women in State Judiciaries
A focus on the U.S. Constitution and federal judges has obscured a longer and more complex history of women serving on state benches — and how state constitutions mattered in their rise.