Vermont
Vermont’s highest court is the Vermont Supreme Court. The court has four associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen according to the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: Vermont Constitution)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates Vermont Supreme Court justices from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a six-year term. Justices may seek additional terms, in which a case a vote of the general assembly is held and the justice is retained unless a majority of the votes are against retention. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor nominates a candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a six-year term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 90.
State Constitution
Vermont has had three state constitutions adopted between 1777 and 1793. As of January 1, 2024, it had 56 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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Back-to-School Scholarship Roundup: State Courts, Constitutional Law, and Federalism
Recent books and law review articles discuss voter disenfranchisement, separation of church and state, and much more.
What Happens if the U.S. Supreme Court Guts the Voting Rights Act?
State provisions could help fill a voting rights gap, but they are a poor substitute for a strong federal standard.
A New Tool Makes Comparing State Constitutions Easier
Scholars, practitioners, and judges can quickly see how constitutional provisions differ or overlap with a resource from the nonprofit American Juris Link.
Universal Injunctions in State Courts
Debates over whether a judge in a single county can issue a statewide injunction are brewing. States should not follow the U.S. Supreme Court’s approach.
The History of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States, and What Might Come Next
Until the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, the country was a patchwork of laws regarding who could marry.
State Supreme Court Justices and Ethics Investigations
Challenges faced by state judicial ethics bodies show the need for reform.
Hawaii’s Lawsuit Against Oil Companies Alleges “Harm to Public Trust Resources”
States are suing companies that cause harm to the environment, relying on mandates requiring protection of public resources.
Levels of Scrutiny Applied by State Courts, Explained
The tests state courts use to decide whether a law impermissibly infringes on people’s rights play a big role in determining whether government restrictions on those rights are upheld.