§ 602 - -Duties - Vermont Statutes

§ 602. -Duties

(a) Prior to submission of names of candidates for justices of the supreme court, superior judges and district judges to the governor or general assembly as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the board shall submit to the court administrator of the supreme court a list of all candidates, and he shall disclose to the board information solely about professional disciplinary action taken or pending concerning any candidate. From the list of candidates presented, the judicial nominating board shall select by majority vote, provided that a quorum is present, qualified candidates as set forth in subsection (b).

(b) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of a supreme court justice, a superior or district judge, or when an incumbent does not declare that he will be a candidate to succeed himself, the judicial nominating board shall submit to the governor the names of as many persons as it deems qualified to be appointed to the office. There shall be included in the qualifications for appointment that the person shall be an attorney at law who has been engaged in the practice of law or a judge in the state of Vermont for a period of at least five out of the ten years preceding his appointment, and with respect to a candidate for superior or district judge particular consideration shall be given to the nature and extent of his trial practice.

(c) All proceedings of the board, including the names of candidates considered by the board and information about any candidate submitted by the court administrator or by any other source, shall be confidential. (1966, No. 64 (Sp. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1967; amended 1967, No. 41, eff. March 16, 1967; 1967, No. 306 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1969, No. 125, § 7; 1971, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1975, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1985, No. 108 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 25, 1986.)