Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would amend the process by which the judicial commission is determined.

Highlights:

• Amends the judicial commission nomination process so that electors are no longer subject to Senate confirmation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Governor to appoint five electors to the judicial commission (Sec. 1-5).

• Specifies that no more than half of the Governor appointed electors will be of the same gender (Sec. 1-5).

• Requires that at least half of the Governor appointed electors are qualified to practice law in Iowa (Sec. 1-5).

• Requires the Governor to appoint an elector from each Congressional district and specifies that the Governor can only appoint more than 2 electors from a Congressional district if each district already has at least 2 Governor appointed electors (Sec. 1-5).

• Authorizes the Iowa Supreme Court to appoint an elector to the judicial nominating commission and specifies that the appointment will be determined by a majority vote of the Supreme Court (Sec. 2-6).

• Specifies that when replacing an elector mid-term, the replacement must be the same gender of the one they’re replacing (Sec. 2-6).

• Authorizes legislative leaders to appoint electors (Sec. 3).

• Defines legislative leaders as the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes each to appoint two electors of different genders to the judicial nomination commission (Sec. 3).

• Requires that at least one of the electors appointed by each leader be qualified to practice law in Iowa (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits appointments that result in two electors from the same Congressional district who were appointed by the same party leader in the same chamber (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that when replacing an elector mid-term, the replacement will be made by the person holding the same legislative leadership that made the original appointment (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that when replacing an elector mid-term, the replacement must be the same gender of the one they’re replacing (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits electors from serving past their dates of termination and specifies that the commission will postpone meetings if vacancies aren’t filled (Sec. 4-6).

• Specifies that all electors shall be chosen without reference to political affiliation (Sec. 1-6).

• Specifies that electors are restricted to single and staggered six year terms (Sec. 1-6).

• Authorizes the Governor to appoint district, probate, and juvenile associate judges nominated by the judicial commission (Sec. 28-33).

• Amends the process by which Chief Justices are selected and specifies the following (Sec. 36):

• That at the first meeting every odd-numbered year the Justices will decide by majority vote who will serve as Chief Justice;

• That the term is 2 years and that the Chief Justice is eligible for reselection;

• In the case that a vacancy occurs mid-term, the Justices will select by majority vote who will serve as Chief Justice for the remainder of the term; and

• That the Chief Justice may appoint another to serve as their replacement for the remainder of their term.

Full Bill Text