Opinion ID: 1702660
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Eligibility to Serve as a Senior Judge

Text: The committee was asked by the Supreme Court to make a recommendation whether there is a need for a formalized certification process for senior judges, or if not what other process might be instituted to determine the eligibility of senior judges for assignment. The committee agreed there was not a need for a formal certification process; the chief justice would be well served in exercising the authority to assign retired judges and justices to temporary service by the existence of a structured process that would aid in determining the eligibility for assignment of retired justices and judges who would like to serve as senior judges. The committee concluded that the process of reaching a determination of eligibility should include screening to ensure that the retired judge is current with educational requirements, that judicial leadership within the judge's resident court do not have concerns regarding the judge's present ability to serve, and that the judge has no pending investigations before the Judicial Qualifications Commission. In addition, the committee agreed that, for judges and justices who have been inactive as well as for active senior judges, the determination of eligibility should also take into consideration attorney input regarding the judge's work. Recommendation Two: Potential senior judges should be subject to a process to determine eligibility for assignment that includes the following components:  screening to ensure compliance with continuing education requirements;  employment screening including inquiries to chief and administrative judges with whom the candidate has worked;  inquiry with the Judicial Qualifications Commission regarding whether the retired judge is the subject of a pending investigation; and,  consideration of input about the retired judge's work from attorneys who appear before the court. Additional eligibility criteria were discussed by the committee. The committee considered whether judges who had been defeated in an election or who failed to achieve a majority vote in favor of retention in their last judicial position should be eligible for assignment as a senior judge. The committee observed that, while qualified and competent judges may occasionally fail to win re-election or retention, concerns of public trust and confidence and deference to the constitutional electoral process dictate that the expressed will of the voters should be respected, and a judge or justice who in his or her last judicial position was not re-elected or retained by the voters should not be eligible for senior judge service.