HB 720 Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendment to replace judicial elections with appointment of Superior and District Court judges by General Assembly through nominations from a Judicial Nominating Commission, followed by retention elections for voters to approve or reject continued service.

• Creates 12-member Judicial Nominating Commission with members appointed by Governor, legislative leaders, and various bar associations to nominate five candidates for each judicial vacancy within 60 days.

• Establishes retention election process where judges appointed under this system must be approved by voters of their district at general elections before term expiration; judges disapproved by voters are replaced through new appointments.

• Amendment requires approval by voters at November 8, 2016 election and statutory changes take effect January 1, 2018 for new vacancies.

• Removes current judicial election provisions from General Statutes and establishes that Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices continue to be elected while Superior and District Court judges become appointive with voter retention elections.