[jnc_network]FAQs

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 15:11:23 -0600

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the JNC Network?

The JNC Network is an unique organization of judicial nominating
commissioners and administrative staff who work with judicial nominating
commissions.  The Network is designed to facilitate communication among and
assistance to commissions as they perform the vital task of reviewing
judicial applicants.  

What is a Judicial Nominating Commission?

In those states that have adopted a "merit selection" system of choosing all
or some of their judges, a judicial nominating commission composed of both
lawyers and non-lawyers is established to review applications for a judicial
vacancy and recommend the most qualified people for appointment to the
bench.  The rules that govern nominating commissions vary greatly from state
to state, but every commission has the fundamental goal of ensuring that
applicants are assessed on their knowledge of the law, their experience,
their demeanor, and their ability to be fair and impartial judges.  For more
information about judicial nominating commissions, click here. (live link to
the JSS JNC summary page).  

What is "merit selection"?  

Merit selection is a system whereby the state sets up a bipartisan
nominating commission, including members of the legal community as well as
citizens. When a vacancy occurs on the court, applicants submit their
applications to this nominating commission. The commission then reviews the
applications, conducts interviews with the applicants, and assesses the
qualifications of each. The commission creates a list of names of those they
feel are most qualified for the job (this list usually contains 3-8 names
depending upon the state). This list is given to the governor, who chooses
one of the people on the list and appoints that person to a judgeship. After
serving, the judge's name is then regularly placed on the ballot for a
"retention election" and citizens get to decide whether or not they will
retain their seat on the bench.

Can I be a member of the JNC Network if I'm not a nominating commissioner?

Generally speaking, the JNC Network is an organization of commissioners
and/or staff members who work with nominating commissioners (including staff
from the judicial, legislative, or executive branches).  If you have
questions about whether or not you are eligible to join, please contact
Rachel Paine Caufield, Tim Eckley, or Malia Reddick.

How much does it cost to become a member of the JNC Network?

A 2009 membership to the JNC Network is free to all nominating commissioners
and those staff members who work with nominating commissioners.  

Who runs the JNC Network?

The American Judicature Society (AJS) is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the fair and impartial
administration of justice.  For nearly 100 years, AJS has advocated merit
selection of judges as one way to minimize political influences in the
justice system.  To preserve and improve merit selection, AJS has set up the
JNC Network to allow more and better communication among commissioners, to
provide information and support for commissioners, and to draw attention to
reforms that can help nominating commissions strengthen and improve their
rules and procedures as well as their relationships with public officials
and private citizens.  

Rachel Paine Caufield, Ph.D.

Research Fellow, Elmo B. Hunter Citizens Center for Judicial Selection

The American Judicature Society

The Opperman Center at Drake University

2700 University Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50311

515-271-2289 (phone)

515-279-3090 (fax)

rcaufield@ajs.org

Associate Professor

Drake University Department of Politics and International Relations

2508 University Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa  50311

515-271-1924 (phone)

515-271-1870 (fax)

rachel.caufield@drake.edu 

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Frequently Asked =
Questions<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>What is the JNC =
Network?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>The JNC Network is an unique organization of judicial nominating
commissioners and administrative staff who work with judicial nominating
commissions.&nbsp; The Network is designed to facilitate communication =
among and
assistance to commissions as they perform the vital task of reviewing =
judicial
applicants.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>What is a Judicial =
Nominating
Commission?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

In those states that have adopted a &#8220;merit =
selection&#8221;
system of choosing all or some of their judges, a judicial nominating
commission composed of both lawyers and non-lawyers is established to =
review
applications for a judicial vacancy and recommend the most qualified =
people for
appointment to the bench.&nbsp; The rules that govern nominating =
commissions vary
greatly from state to state, but every commission has the fundamental =
goal of
ensuring that applicants are assessed on their knowledge of the law, =
their
experience, their demeanor, and their ability to be fair and impartial =
judges. &nbsp;For
more information about judicial nominating commissions, click here. =
(live link to the JSS JNC summary =
page).&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>What is &#8220;merit =
selection&#8221;?&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

Merit selection is a system whereby the state sets up a =
bipartisan
nominating commission, including members of the legal community as well =
as
citizens. When a vacancy occurs on the court, applicants submit their
applications to this nominating commission. The commission then reviews =
the
applications, conducts interviews with the applicants, and assesses the
qualifications of each. The commission creates a list of names of those =
they
feel are most qualified for the job (this list usually contains 3-8 =
names
depending upon the state). This list is given to the governor, who =
chooses one
of the people on the list and appoints that person to a judgeship. After =
serving,
the judge&#8217;s name is then regularly placed on the ballot for a
&#8220;retention election&#8221; and citizens get to decide whether or =
not they
will retain their seat on the bench.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Can I be a member of the JNC =
Network
if I&#8217;m not a nominating =
commissioner?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>Generally speaking, the JNC Network is an organization of =
commissioners
and/or staff members who work with nominating commissioners (including =
staff
from the judicial, legislative, or executive branches).&nbsp; If you =
have questions
about whether or not you are eligible to join, please contact Rachel =
Paine
Caufield, Tim Eckley, or Malia Reddick.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>How much does it cost to =
become a
member of the JNC Network?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>A 2009 membership to the JNC Network is free to all nominating
commissioners and those staff members who work with nominating =
commissioners.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Who runs the JNC =
Network?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'>The American Judicature Society (AJS) is a national, =
nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the fair =
and
impartial administration of justice.&nbsp; For nearly 100 years, AJS has =
advocated
merit selection of judges as one way to minimize political influences in =
the
justice system.&nbsp; To preserve and improve merit selection, AJS has =
set up the
JNC Network to allow more and better communication among commissioners, =
to provide
information and support for commissioners, and to draw attention to =
reforms
that can help nominating commissions strengthen and improve their rules =
and procedures
as well as their relationships with public officials and private =
citizens.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond;font-weight:bold'>Rachel Paine Caufield, =
Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>Research Fellow, <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Elmo</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">B.</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Hunter</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Citizens</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for =
Judicial
Selection<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>The American Judicature =
Society<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>The <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Opperman</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType> at <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Drake</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></fon=
t></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:Street w:st=3D"on"><st1:address =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D3
  face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>2700
  University Avenue</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-family:Garamond'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><font =
size=3D3
  face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>Des =
Moines</span></font></st1:City><font
 face=3DGaramond><span style=3D'font-family:Garamond'>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Iowa</st1:State>
 <st1:PostalCode =
w:st=3D"on">50311</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-family:Garamond'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>515-271-2289 (phone)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>515-279-3090 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'><a =
href=3D"mailto:rcaufield@ajs.org">rcaufield@ajs.org</a><o:p></o:p></span>=
</font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>Associate Professor<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>Drake University Department of Politics and =
International
Relations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:Street w:st=3D"on"><st1:address =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D3
  face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>2508
  University Avenue</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-family:Garamond'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><font =
size=3D3
  face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond'>Des =
Moines</span></font></st1:City><font
 face=3DGaramond><span style=3D'font-family:Garamond'>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Iowa</st1:State>&nbsp;
 <st1:PostalCode =
w:st=3D"on">50311</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-family:Garamond'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>515-271-1924 (phone)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'>515-271-1870 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DGaramond><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Garamond'><a =
href=3D"mailto:rachel.caufield@drake.edu">rachel.caufield@drake.edu</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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