FL H0857

Reduces lawyer members on judicial nominating commissions from four to three, with at least one appointed by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar who must be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group or a woman.

Restructures gubernatorial appointments to nine total members: three electors (at least one from a protected group) and three non-lawyer electors (at least one from a protected group) selected by majority vote of the other six commission members.

Requires each judicial nominating commission to satisfy racial and gender diversity prerequisites, with at least one diverse member in each appointment category.

Provides transition mechanism requiring that at least every other appointment to commissions not in compliance as of July 1, 2010 must be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group or a woman until diversity requirements are met.

Effective July 1, 2010.