The Commissions on Judicial Appointments, also known as judicial nominating commissions, are responsible for nominating individuals to fill judicial vacancies in appellate courts and the Superior Court in Maricopa and Pima counties. In 1992, Arizona voters approved the first changes to the merit selection process since it was adopted in 1974. The changes modify the process for appointing Superior Court and appellate court judges, including adding the requirements that judicial nominating commissions hear public testimony and vote in public before making recommendations to the governor, who then appoints new judges from the recommendations of the commissions. A new, increased level of participation includes committees that screen and recommend candidates to the governor to serve on the three nominating commissions. When vacancies occur for non-attorney members of the trial court nominating commissions, the county board of supervisors member from the district in which the vacancy occurred appoints a nominating committee of seven persons from the district.
Public notice is given that applications are being accepted for appointment to the commission.
All applications, along with the committee's recommendations, are forwarded to the governor for consideration. When a non-attorney vacancy occurs on the appellate court commission, the governor appoints a nominating committee of nine members who solicit and review applications, and forward names of all applicants along with the committee's recommendation to the governor. Attorney members of the three commissions are nominated to the governor by the State Bar of Arizona. Members of the commissions are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The commissions submit at least three names to the governor for each judicial appointment, with major consideration given to geographic and ethnic diversity.