SB 200 Summary

• Expands judicial retention election ballots from four to five parts to separately address magistrate retention elections, allowing voters to approve or reject magistrates for four-year terms.

• Changes judicial appointment procedures so the governor may appoint one qualified candidate (rather than choosing from two or more nominees) to fill court of appeals, district court, and magistrate vacancies, subject to legislative confirmation.

• Adds requirement that judicial council nominees demonstrate commitment to "strict constitutional interpretation of statutes and regulations and adhering to legislative intent" before the governor may appoint them.

• Transfers evaluation and recommendation duties for retention elections from the Judicial Council to the Commission on Judicial Conduct for all judicial officers including magistrates.

• Prohibits use of state funds to support or oppose retention or rejection of any judicial officer in elections, with exceptions for the Commission on Judicial Conduct's statutory duties.