The bill amends existing laws regarding the information that judicial officers seeking retention in office must provide. Specifically, it requires that by August 7 of the election year, justices and judges must submit a variety of information to the lieutenant governor, including a photograph, residency details, military service, professional activities, and any additional information they wish to include to support their candidacy, with a total word limit of 300 words. This replaces the previous requirement for a statement advocating their candidacy.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for the judicial council to file a statement with the lieutenant governor about each judicial officer subject to a retention election. The new provisions stipulate that the statement must reflect evaluations conducted by the judicial council and include specific information about the judges, such as their professional philosophy, education, business experience, affiliations, performance ratings, and any public disciplinary proceedings. The total word count for this statement is capped at 1,200 words, and it includes detailed requirements for both superior court judges and supreme court justices, while removing the previous mandate to describe public reprimands or censure received by the judges.

Statutes affected:
SB0025A, AM SB 25, introduced 01/10/2025: 15.58.030, 15.58.050