1. (1) Commissioners shall have access to an applicant's complete application and any information gathered by commission staff during the prescreening process described in Section R356-2-6, including any references returned to CCJJ.

2. (2) When determining which applicants to interview or certify to the governor, commissioners shall consider an applicants':

   1. (a) integrity;
   2. (b) legal knowledge and ability;
   3. (c) professional experience;
   4. (d) judicial temperament;
   5. (e) work ethic;
   6. (f) financial responsibility;
   7. (g) public service;

   8. (h) ability to perform the work of a judge; and

      1. (i) impartiality.
3. (3) When evaluating an applicant for a juvenile court vacancy, commissioners shall consider an applicants' interest in, understanding of, and experience with the issues and problems facing children and families.
4. (4) When evaluating an applicant for an appellate court vacancy, commissions shall consider an applicants' ability to give and receive criticism of opinions and arguments without taking offense.
5. (5) When deciding among applicants for any judicial vacancy whose qualifications, taken as a whole, appear in all other respects to be comparable, commissioners may consider the background and experience of an applicant in relation to the current composition of the bench for which the appointment is being made.
6. (6) Unless otherwise provided by statute, commissioners on the district and juvenile court nominating commissions may not decline to interview an applicant or decline to nominate an applicant based primarily on the geographic location of the applicant's residence or the geographic location of the applicant's employment.

KEY: judicial nominating commissions, judges

Date of Last Change: April 15, 2025

Notice of Continuation: July 2, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 78A-10a-201