School Funding Decision Could Intensify Efforts to Alter Selection of Kansas Judges

News and Updates
As IAALS Online has covered previously, Governor Brownback and conservative state legislators are expected to pursue changes to the process for choosing Kansas’ appellate judges in the upcoming legislative session. An unfavorable judicial decision… MORE

A Missed Opportunity in the Tarheel State

News and Updates
In April 2011, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue entered Executive Order 86, which created a judicial nominating commission to screen applicants and recommend the best qualified candidates for judicial vacancies that arise between elections.… MORE

Requirement for Partisan Balance on Delaware Courts Leads to Reform Proposal

News and Updates
An unusual feature of the Delaware constitution is that it requires partisan balance on the state’s courts, so judicial vacancies are reserved for members of a particular political party. All judges are appointed by the governor from… MORE

Senate Showing Signs of Life on Judicial Nominations

News and Updates
During the week of December 3, the U.S. Senate confirmed four nominees for district court judgeships in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and Michigan. This is unexpected progress in light of disagreement among Republican senators … MORE

Gov. Christie Nominates Two for Supreme Court

News and Updates
Governor Chris Christie submitted nominees for two New Jersey supreme court vacancies to the senate. One of the nominees is a sitting superior court judge and, if confirmed, would be the first Asian American justice on the court; the other… MORE

Delaware Gov. Markell Praises State's Merit Selection Process

News and Updates
Rather than being elected by the voters, Delaware’s judges are appointed by the governor with senate confirmation. Since 1977, Delaware governors have entered an executive order creating a judicial nominating commission to screen applicants and… MORE

New York Nominating Commission Recommends Diverse Candidates for High Court Vacancy

News and Updates
According to a system established in 1977 by constitutional amendment, the governor appoints judges to the New York Court of Appeals—the state's highest court—from names submitted by the Commission on Judicial Nomination. The Commission… MORE

Keynote Address: New England Law Review Symposium on State Court Funding

News and Updates
University of New Hampshire School of Law Dean John Broderick delivered this keynote address at the New England Law Review’s fall symposium, "Crisis in the Judiciary.” The symposium addressed the deep fiscal challenges faced by… MORE

Courts Learning from One Another: Colorado and Texas

News and Updates
Two recent events have us reflecting on the reasons why it is important to collect and share data. At IAALS, we have concluded our final study of Colorado’s Simplified Procedure (Rule 16.1), which was enacted in 2004. In Texas, the Supreme Court has… MORE

Illinois Senator Activates Screening Committee for Federal Judicial Vacancy

News and Updates
Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk each authorize a nonpartisan screening committee to evaluate applicants for district court vacancies and make recommendations as to the best qualified. With four open seats in Illinois and only one… MORE