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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Judicial Ethics and Discipline in the States
Before the U.S. Supreme Court adopted of a code of conduct last month, it was the only court in the country without one.
Lack of Transparency in New York Courts Undermines Democracy
Only a tiny fraction of New York criminal court decisions are publicly accessible, hampering New Yorkers’ ability to hold their judges accountable.
Kansas Online Court System Faces Long Recovery Time After Cyberattack
The outage underscores the hurdles the public faces accessing court information across the country.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Election Could Shape Direction of State Law
The candidates for an open seat on Pennsylvania’s supreme court have very different approaches to legal interpretation.
The Stakes in Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Election
The outcome could have big implications for abortion rights, elections, and more.
Campaign Cash and Judicial Outcomes
A new book offers empirical evidence that reelection pressures influence judicial decision-making.
New Data Shows Lack of Diversity on Many State Supreme Courts
State court benches continue to fall short of representing the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the communities they serve.
What’s Next in Wisconsin
Republican state legislators threaten to upset long-standing norms of judicial independence.