Racial and Gender Diversity on State Courts: An AJS Study

Published in the ABA Judicial Division's The Judges' Journal, this study examines the institutional and political circumstances in which minority and women judges are most likely to be selected to state courts. It also provides an overview of the extent of judicial diversity over time and in 2008.

Model Judicial Selection Provisions

Revised in 2008, these provisions offer exemplary language for establishing judicial nomination and evaluation processes of the highest quality and represent American Judicature Society policy as to the “best practices” in selecting, retaining, and evaluating judges.

Judicial Selection in the States: How It Works, Why It Matters

Prepared for state legislators, this guide promotes greater understanding of the complex and critical issue of selecting state court judges.

Judicial Selection Reform: Examples from Six States

Examines successful judicial selection reform efforts in six states, discussing the nature of each reform and its implementation in other states, the events that provided the impetus for reform, and the actors who were instrumental in bringing about the reform.

Judicial Selection in the United States: A Special Report

Describes the historical evolution of judicial selection in the United States.

Judicial Selection in the States: Appellate and General Jurisdiction Courts

A set of tables that provide basic information about the initial selection and subsequent retention of state judges. Below are links to the individual tables.

Summary of Initial Selection Methods

Initial Selection: Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction

Initial Selection: Intermediate Appellate Courts

Initial Selection: Courts of Last Resort

Initial Selection, Retention, and Term Length

Judicial Merit Selection: Current Status

A set of tables that provide detailed information about selection provisions in states with "merit selection," or commission-based appointment, of judges.

Merit Selection: A Review of the Social Scientific Literature

Synthesizes existing social science research on merit selection. [Cite as: Malia Reddick, Merit Selection: A Review of the Social Scientific Literature, 106 DICK. L. REV. 729 (2002)]

Diversity and the Judicial Merit Selection Process: A Statistical Report

According to this study of ten states in which judicial nominating commissions have a role in selecting judges, more diverse commissions attract more diverse applicant pools and produce more diverse nominee lists.

Merit Selection: The Best Way to Choose the Best Judges

Describes the merit selection process and its advantages over other methods of judicial selection.

Chronology of Merit Selection Ballot Measures

A chronology of successful and unsuccessful statewide merit selection ballot measures.

Progression of Judicial Merit Selection in the United States

Depicts by decade the adoption of judicial merit selection by constitution or statute, to fill some or all vacancies. The final map, Judicial Merit Selection Today, also includes states with executive order merit plans.

Judicial Retention Evaluation Programs in Four States: A Report with Recommendations

Assesses the impact of court-sponsored JPE programs in four states--Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Based on exit polls of voters, and surveys of judges and performance evaluation commission members.

Judicial Retention Evaluation Programs in Four States: Executive Summary

Judicial Retention Evaluation Programs in Four States: Appendices

Chapter 1: Commission Ethics

Chapter 2: Confidentiality and Privacy

Chapter 3: The Organizational Meeting

Chapter 4: Notice of Vacancy and Recruitment

Chapter 5: Evaluative Criteria

Chapter 6: Screening and Investigation

Chapter 7: Interviewing the Candidates

Chapter 8: Voting and Submitting Names of Nominees

Institute for Judicial Nominating Commissioners Facilitator's Guide