I'm an Oklahoma lawyer. In Oklahoma, state district court judges are elected in non-partisan elections. They then appoint special judges who handle things like small claims and criminal preliminary hearings. Judges for the Civil Court of Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Oklahoma Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor must appoint from a list of 3 candidates provided by a judicial nominating commission made up of members appointed in equal number by the Governor, the Senate Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House. All of the appointed judges serve staggered terms and in every election a significant number of them appear on what's called a retention ballot. That ballot says something like "Shall Judge Joe Smith serve another term as a Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court." The choices are yes or no.
In the federal context, there are federal district courts, the Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. At the district court level there are probably more than a thousand district judges and magistrate judges. There are lots of vacancies, because the appointment process can never keep up. All appointments made by the President must be confirmed by the Senate. That technically requires only a majority vote, however, some of Bush's more controversial nominees have been held up by filibuster, which takes 60 votes to break. Bush has still had well over a hundred judges confirmed. He has only had a few Circuit appointments so far and no Supreme Court appointments. So, at this point, Bush's overall effect on the federal judiciary has been minimal. Another Bush term, however, could see as many as two Supreme Court vacancies. Filling those vacancies could radically alter the fundamental balance of power on the Court which could have powerful ramifications throughout the country. > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob Underwood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 6:11 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: OT: Judicial election/appointment (was Re: Is > Linux Unix?) > > > On Sunday 25 July 2004 11:16 pm, Karsten M. Self wrote: > > Varies by jurisdiction. > > > > Superior (county) judges are frequently elected. > > > > State/Federal judges are appointed by governors and presidents, > > respectively. I don't believe any state has an elected judiciary, > > although California has recalled Supreme Court justices through > > plebiscite. > > Judges in Kentucky, where I used to live, are, in fact, > elected by the voting > population. This includes district judges (misdemeanors/ juveniles/ > preliminary hearings) circuit judges (felonies), judges of > the Court of > Appeal and State Supreme Court. > > My memory of California is that the governor appoints all > judges, who must > then stand for non-partisan election in the next general > election of the > state. > > Bob >