| Commission on Judicial Selection Opening Interview Process to the Public |
| Thursday, 27 December 2007 12:54 | |||
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Another step has been taken to ensure public access to Nevada's court system.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection - the group which interviews and nominates attorneys for appointment to vacant District Court and Supreme Court positions - voted on Dec. 18 to open its interviews, deliberations, and most application information to the public. The process of screening applicants for appoint to judgeships includes gathering extensive background information on applicants and conducting comprehensive interviews. The seven-member Commission agreed that with few exceptions the entire process, which traditionally had been confidential, could become public. Those exceptions would involve such information as personal identifiers and health details. Also remaining confidential will be the letters of comment solicited by the Commission about the candidates and letters of reference. The Commission wants to ensure the authors of the letters can be candid. "The Commission believes in the quality of the process and firmly believes the public should see it," said Chief Justice William Maupin. "One of the most important functions of government involves the selection of judges." "This is an experiment in open government we know will succeed," Chief Justice Maupin said. "This Commission works very hard to determine the best nominees for Nevada judgeships," said Chief Justice William Maupin. "The process we go through is extensive and very thorough." At its Dec. 18 meeting, the Commission voted to open the judicial selection process to the public and authorized the drafting of rule changes to accomplish that goal. The draft rules will be considered when the Commission meets again in mid-January. Chief Justice Maupin said the new rules would be in effect when the next mid-term vacancy occurs as the result of a resignation, retirement, removal, or other reason. The Nevada Supreme Court recently has taken other steps to open the court system to the public. The Court's Commission on Preservation, Access, and Sealing of Court Records has recommended new rules to ensure case files are not inappropriately sealed and judges specify the reasons when portions of cases are sealed. The Supreme Court also has begun posting audio files –, often referred to as podcasts –, of all oral arguments in an effort to provide more access to court functions. Nevada has a system of electing judges at every level, but when a judge leaves office in mid-term, the vacancy is filled by appointment. The appointment is made by the Governor from a list of three nominees determined by the Commission on Judicial Selection. The Commission has responsibility for advertising the vacancy, collecting applications, conducting background investigations, soliciting public comment, and conducting interviews. Each applicant for a vacancy completes a comprehensive application providing information about education, law practice, business involvement, community involvement, professional and personal conduct, and health. The Commission bases its nominations on the applications, letters of reference, written public comments, and responses to verbal questions posed during interviews. Regular members of the Commission on Judicial Selection include the Chief Justice, three non attorneys appointed by the Governor and three attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Nevada. In the appointment of regular Commission members, neither the Governor nor the Bar may appoint more than two members of the same political party, nor choose more than one member from the same county. Regular Commission members serve four-year terms, with the terms expiring on alternate years. For District Court vacancies, two temporary members are appointed for each vacancy –, a non-attorney by the Governor, and an attorney by the State Bar of Nevada. Temporary members must be residents of the Judicial District in which the vacancy occurs. They serve only until the nominations for the vacancy are transmitted to the Governor. Currently, the regular Commission members are:
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