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2016 SESSION

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SB 355 Judicial Nominations Commission; created.

Introduced by: R. Creigh Deeds | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Judicial Nominations Commission; local judicial nomination committees. Creates a 15-member statewide Judicial Nominations Commission (Commission), elected by the General Assembly, to recommend appellate judicial candidates to the General Assembly and the Governor. The bill requires that the Commission include at least one member from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts, that five members be attorneys, and that 10 members be citizens who have never been licensed to practice law. Initially staggered, the terms of members will be four years. The Commission's recommendations are nonbinding. The local judicial nominations committees are established in each circuit through appointment by the General Assembly members who represent each circuit. The number of attorneys may not exceed 30 percent of the entire panel. The committees are required to maximize public input into their review process. The committees' recommendations of up to three candidates for each vacancy are not binding on the General Assembly. A delegation may opt out of this process by certifying to the clerks of each house that the delegation has in place a process that ensures participation of each delegation member and participation by the general public in the nomination process.


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