AZ SCR1020

Changes judicial elections for supreme court justices from merit-based appointments with retention votes to direct partisan elections with 2-year terms instead of 6-year terms.

Converts superior court judgeships in counties with 250,000+ population from merit-based appointments to partisan elections with 2-year terms, while maintaining merit system for smaller counties with 4-year elected terms.

Eliminates the commission on appellate court appointments and replaces it with a new commission on independent redistricting commission appointments focused on legislative redistricting rather than judicial appointments.

Establishes the chief justice's term as 2 years (reduced from 5 years) and changes the selection method for chief justice to election by sitting justices rather than gubernatorial appointment.

Repeals sections 36-38 and 40-42 of Article VI, eliminating the merit retention system, trial court appointment commission, and retention evaluation procedures currently in place for judicial selection.