Rule 10.27 Nominees and Nominations

When a judicial vacancy needs to be filled, a special commission is responsible for picking the three most qualified candidates to send forward for consideration. The commission can't just choose from people who applied or who were recommended by someone else. Instead, the commission needs to actively look for the best possible candidates, even if that means reaching out to people who haven't put their name forward.

Before making its final decision official, the commission is allowed to quietly check with a potential nominee to see if that person would actually accept the nomination if chosen. This gives the commission a chance to confirm someone's willingness to serve before going through the formal nomination process. It helps avoid the problem of naming someone who might turn down the position later.