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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A Michigan Prosecutor on the Importance of State Judicial Elections
State courts, including lower courts, decide issues critical to the communities they serve, but judicial races are too frequently overlooked.
To Prevent Chaos and Confusion, Judges Must Prepare for Election Emergencies
In advance of the election, judges should educate themselves on election administration and develop emergency response procedures that will enable creation of effective remedies.
Scholarship Roundup: September 2024 Back to School Edition
New articles and books cover a wide range of topics related to state constitutions, judiciaries, state-level democracy, and more.
A Conversation with Former Florida Chief Justice Barbara Pariente
Pariente spoke about abortion rights and the importance of respecting precedent.
A Primer on Standing in State Courts
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently clarified the limits of “taxpayer standing” in a case challenging the restoration of voting rights to 60,000 people with felony convictions.
Iowa Supreme Court Allows Six-Week Abortion Ban to Take Effect
The court’s stance on reproductive health has shifted dramatically since 2018, when it held that abortion was a fundamental right under the state constitution.
State Supreme Court Elections to Watch in 2024
Key races in Michigan, Montana, Kentucky, and Ohio will shape state law on reproductive rights, criminal justice, and much more.
Three U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Transformed State Judicial Elections
Judicial elections have become major political battlegrounds — complete with dark money, special interests, and attack ads — thanks to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.