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The Vermont Statutes Online
Title
04
:
Judiciary
Chapter
015
:
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
§
601. Judicial Nominating Board created; composition
(a) A Judicial
Nominating Board is created for the nomination of Supreme Court Justices,
Superior judges, magistrates, the Chair of the Public Service Board, and
members of the Public Service Board.
(b) The Board
shall consist of 11 members who shall be selected as follows:
(1) The Governor
shall appoint two members who are not attorneys at law.
(2) The Senate
shall elect three of its members, not all of whom shall be members of the same
party, and only one of whom may be an attorney at law.
(3) The House
shall elect three of its members, not all of whom shall be members of the same
party, and only one of whom may be an attorney at law.
(4) Attorneys at
law admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Vermont, and residing in
the State, shall elect three of their number as members of the Board. The
Supreme Court shall regulate the manner of their nomination and election.
(5) The members
of the Board appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of two years and
may serve for no more than three terms. The members of the Board elected by the
House and Senate shall serve for terms of two years and may serve for no more
than three consecutive terms. The members of the Board elected by the attorneys
at law shall serve for terms of two years and may serve for no more than three
consecutive terms. All appointments or elections shall be between January 1 and
February 1 of each odd-numbered year, except to fill a vacancy. Members shall
serve until their successors are elected or appointed.
(6) The members
shall elect their own chair who will serve for a term of two years.
(c) Legislative
members of the Board shall be entitled to per diem compensation and
reimbursement for expenses in accordance with 2 V.S.A. § 406. Members of the
Board who are not otherwise compensated by their employer shall be entitled to
per diem compensation and reimbursement for expenses in the same manner as
board members are compensated under 32 V.S.A. § 1010. All compensation and
reimbursement shall be paid from the legislative appropriation.
(d) The Judicial
Nominating Board shall adopt rules under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 which shall
establish criteria and standards for the nomination of candidates for Justices
of the Supreme Court, Superior judges, magistrates, the Chair of the Public
Service Board, and members of the Public Service Board. The criteria and
standards shall include such factors as integrity, legal knowledge and ability,
judicial temperament, impartiality, health, experience, diligence,
administrative and communicative skills, social consciousness, and public
service. The application form shall not be included in the rules and may be
developed and periodically revised at the discretion of the Board.
(e) A quorum of
the Board shall consist of eight members.
(f) The Board is
authorized to use the staff and services of appropriate State agencies and
departments as necessary to conduct investigations of applicants. The Office of
Legislative Council shall assist the Board for the purpose of rulemaking.
(Amended 1966, No. 64 (Sp. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1967; 1967, No. 306 (Adj.
Sess.), § 2; 1969, No. 125, § 6; 1971, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1975, No. 204
(Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1979, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 1985, No. 108 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 1, eff. March 25, 1986; 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 32; 2011, No. 162 (Adj.
Sess.), § E.125.1, eff. March 7, 2012; 2013, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff.
June 17, 2014.)