Rule 4.3 3: Activities of Candidates for Appointive Judicial Office

If you want to be appointed to a judicial position rather than elected, this rule spells out what you're allowed to do to pursue that goal. You can talk directly with the people or groups who decide on the appointment, including any special commission set up to screen or pick candidates. This means you can answer their questions, provide information about yourself, and make your case for why you should be chosen.

You're also allowed to ask for endorsements to support your candidacy. You can get support from individuals or organizations, but you cannot seek an endorsement from a partisan political group. This keeps the appointment process focused on qualifications rather than political party backing.

Beyond talking to the appointing authority and seeking endorsements, any other political activity you engage in must follow the same rules that apply to sitting judges. In other words, you don't get special permission to do things that a judge in that position couldn't already do. This keeps candidates for appointed judgeships held to the same standards as judges already on the bench, so the process stays fair and focused on merit rather than politics.