Goals and Principles for Judicial Nominating Commissions

A subcommittee of the O’Connor Advisory Committee developed a set of goals to pursue and principles to follow in the selection, composition, and operation of judicial nominating commissions.

Rather than constituting a “one size fits all” prescription, these goals and principles offer a framework within which to establish a commission-based gubernatorial appointment process tailored to individual states.

These goals and principles may be used in strengthening existing systems and establishing new systems, particularly vacancy nominating commission processes in states that elect their judges.