The bill amends Section 8-16.1-6 of the General Laws regarding the nomination and appointment of judges in Rhode Island. It establishes that individuals seeking a judicial nomination must reapply to the judicial nomination commission every three years. Those selected as finalists will be eligible only for the court in which they applied and were chosen during the three years following their selection.

The bill allows individuals whose names have been publicly submitted to the governor by the commission to remain eligible for subsequent nominations for any vacancy, or prospective vacancy, in the same court for three years from the date their names were submitted, unless they withdraw from consideration or the commission votes to terminate their eligibility. However, individuals must reapply for positions such as presiding justice, chief justice, or chief judge.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the governor shall fill any vacancy of any judge of the Rhode Island superior court, family court, district court, workers compensation court, or any other state court established by the general assembly by nominating one of the three to five highly qualified persons forwarded by the commission for the court where the vacancy occurs, or by nominating another individual who has previously applied for a vacancy within the same court and whose name had been publicly submitted to the governor within the previous five years.

Each nomination shall be forwarded to the secretary of the senate for presentation to the senate, and with the advice and consent of the senate, each nominee shall be considered. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6040: 8-16.1-6