Rule 10.29 Action on Nominations

When a judicial vacancy needs to be filled, the nominating commission has to pick its three nominees at an actual meeting, not through phone calls or emails outside a meeting. The commissioners vote by secret ballot, so no one knows how any individual member voted.

Once the commission agrees on the three names, they put it in writing. This document, called a certificate of nomination, lists the nominees and shows how many commission members backed each person. The chair and secretary of the commission both sign it to make it official.

After the certificate is signed, the commission or its chair sends it to the governor right away. The governor then picks one of the three names to fill the judge position. This process keeps the selection open and on the record, while still keeping individual votes private.