Rule 10.26 Vacancies

If a judge's seat is going to open up on a known future date, the commission doesn't have to wait for that vacancy to actually happen before finding a replacement. Instead, the commission can start working early. As long as they are within 60 days of the vacancy date, they can choose their nominees and send those names to the governor ahead of time.

This means the process of picking judges can move faster. There's no gap where a judge's position sits empty just because paperwork couldn't be finished in time. By allowing early nominations, courts can keep running smoothly and avoid unnecessary delays in filling important positions.