Judge Selection and Removal Criteria

Week 3 Discussion ~ “Judge Selection and Removal Criteria” Top of Form

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RE: Week 3 Discussion

1. From the e-Activity, compare and contrast the methods that states use within their selection process for judges, and specify the selection criteria that each state that you reviewed have in common. Provide specific examples to support your rationale.
2. Discuss the selection process for a federal judge nominee, including the background checks, senatorial courtesy, the confirmation process, and the assumption of office. Specify which influences you believe are the most persuasive in the final selection of a judge. Provide rationale for your response.Bottom of Form

The three states that I have picked are Georgia, New Jersey, and Florida.

Georgia – Most court elections in Georgia are nonpartisan, though counties may choose to hold partisan elections for probate court positions. In judicial races, only partisan positions require primary elections. If there is no candidate that receives a majority of votes cast that is 50 percent plus one in a partisan primary, the top two recipients that advance to a primary runoff. In a nonpartisan race there is no majority that is reached, the top two candidates advance to a general election runoff. Partisan primary runoff winners appear on the general election ballot.

https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_local_trial_court_judicial_elections,_2018

New Jersey – Judges in New Jersey do not participate in judicial elections. They are chosen via gubernatorial appointment and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate. When their terms expire, judges are subject to the same system as the original appointment.

https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey_local_trial_court_judicial_elections,_2018

Florida – Each of Florida’s 67 counties has its own county court with varying numbers of judges serving on each county court’s bench. These courts handle matters as misdemeanors, small claims that are under $500 disputed, civil cases that are under $15,000 that are disputed, and traffic violations. The state also has 20 circuit courts, which hear felony, family law, civil cases that are over $15,000 that are disputed, probate issues, and juvenile cases. They also hear appeals from county courts.

https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_local_trial_court_judicial_elections,_2018

Presidents must consider many factors in making their choices for federal judges, experience where the nominees that have substantial judicial or government experience. The President appoints judges who seem to have a similar political ideology to their own. A remarkably high percentage of a percentage of a resident’s appointees belong to the president’s political party. Relatively recently, almost all federal judges were males. However, ethnicity and gender are important criteria for appointing judges.