Act No. 169 Page 1 of 1
2024
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 169 (H.780). An act relating to judicial nominations and appointments
Subjects: Judiciary; judicial nominations and appointments; Judicial Nominating
Board
This act makes several changes to the procedures for making judicial nominations and
appointments when there is a judicial vacancy. The act expands the Judicial Nominating
Board from 11 members to 12 members, with the new member being the Executive
Director of Racial Equity or designee. The act requires a three-fourths majority voted by
the Judicial Nominating Board in order for a candidate to be determined well qualified
and submitted to the Governor for consideration. The act also requires the Board to
consider the extent to which each candidate would contribute to a Judicial branch that has
diverse backgrounds and a broad range of lived experience. The act maintains the
requirement that candidates be Vermont residents who have practice law for at least 10
years, but permits those 10 years of practice to be in other jurisdictions so long as the
candidate practiced in Vermont for at least 5 years immediately prior to the candidate’s
application.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024
VT LEG #377587 v.2


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603
As Passed By the House -- Official: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603
As Enacted: 4-601, 4-602, 4-603