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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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.
States Grapple with Problematic Rule from Federal Voting Cases
The Purcell principle, which holds that federal courts should not change voting rules too close to an election, is increasingly being raised in state litigation.
Advice for Law Students From State Supreme Court Justices
As the school year kicks off, eight justices reflect on what they wish someone had told them when they were in law school.
What the Framers Really Thought About Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Debates from state constitutional conventions show delegates expected protections for inalienable rights to have teeth.
State Constitutional Conventions, Explained
The last state to hold a conventional convention was in Rhode Island in 1986.
The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
Kansas Supreme Court Reaffirms State Constitutional Right to Abortion
The court declined to overturn its recent holding that abortion is protected by the state constitution’s right to personal autonomy.
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
Almost all state courts recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.