Judicial selection in Rhode Island
| Judicial selection in Rhode Island | |
 | |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
| Rhode Island Superior Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
| Rhode Island Family Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
| Rhode Island District Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
| Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
| Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | Life term |
Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.
This article covers how state court judges are selected in Rhode Island, including:
As of April 2023, all Rhode Island judges were appointed by the governor with help from a nominating commission consisting of nine members. Supreme Court nominees then needed to be approved by a majority vote of both the state House and the state Senate, while all other court nominees only needed approval by the Senate.
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Rhode Island Supreme Court
- See also: Rhode Island Supreme Court
The five justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are appointed by the governor with help from a nominating commission made up of nine members. Supreme court nominees must then be approved by a majority vote of both the state House and the state Senate.[1] Justices serve for life or until they retire.
Qualifications
To serve on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, a judge must be:
- an attorney;
- licensed to practice law in the state; and
- a member of the state bar in good standing.[1]
Chief justice
The chief justice is chosen the same way as other justices are when appointed to the court. Like other judges, the chief justice serves in that capacity for life.[1]
Vacancies
Because Rhode Island judges serve for life or until they retire, the concept of a midterm vacancy has little relevance to the state's selection process. When a judge retires or passes away in office, the governor picks a nominee from a list from the judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority vote in both chambers of the state legislature.[1]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Rhode Island," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Rhode Island; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Rhode Island Bar Association, "RI Traffic Tribunal Judicial Magistrate Vacancy and RI Supreme Court Executive Order 2022-09 Regarding RI Traffic Tribunal Magistrate Selection Committee; RI Division of Taxation Changes to Corporate Tax Vouchers," accessed April 13, 2023
- ↑ State of Rhode Island, "Chapter 07-120," accessed May 10, 2019
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "History of Reform Efforts: Rhode Island," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Courts, "FAQ: Federal Judges," accessed March 26, 2015
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Judicial Selection: The Process of Choosing Judges," accessed August 10, 2021
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Rhode Island • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Rhode Island
State courts:
Rhode Island Supreme Court • Rhode Island Superior Court • Rhode Island District Court • Rhode Island Family Court • Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court • Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal
State resources:
Courts in Rhode Island • Rhode Island judicial elections • Judicial selection in Rhode Island
