The bill amends Section 8-16.1-6 of the General Laws regarding the nomination and appointment of judges in Rhode Island. It requires individuals seeking a judicial nomination to reapply to the judicial nomination commission every five (5) years. Individuals selected as finalists will be eligible only for the court in which they applied and were chosen during the five (5) years following their selection. The bill establishes that for the period of five (5) years following July 1, 2025, any individual whose name was publicly submitted to the governor by the commission shall also be eligible for subsequent nomination by the governor for any vacancy, or prospective vacancy, of a judge in the same court for which that individual had previously applied, except for vacancies in the positions of presiding justice, chief justice, or chief judge.

Such individuals will remain eligible for nomination to fill any vacancy, or prospective vacancy, within the same court for a period of five (5) years from the date their names were publicly submitted to the governor, unless they withdraw from future consideration in writing or the judicial nominating commission votes to terminate their eligibility. However, individuals must reapply for any subsequent vacancy in the positions of presiding justice, chief justice, or chief judge.

The provisions regarding eligibility will sunset and expire on July 1, 2028, unless extended by the General Assembly. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
206: 8-16.1-6
206  SUB A: 8-16.1-6