Commission schedules posting, interviews to fill district magistrate vacancy

A judicial selection panel agreed Wednesday to post a vacancy notice on March 13 for a district magistrate seat after Judge Sylvester decided to retire, set an application deadline of noon April 14 and tentatively scheduled interviews for 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 6.

The schedule was set during a short conference-call meeting in which commission members confirmed they had a quorum and assigned staff roles and logistics. Chair said the retirement will create the vacancy and urged a prompt timeline so the post does not remain open for long.

The schedule matters because magistrate positions handle routine matters that courts must fill to maintain case flow. The commission discussed how to vet applicants, whether to interview all who apply, how many commission members should contact references, and whether the interviews should be in person or by videoconference.

Chair said, "Judge Sylvester has decided to retire," and noted the judge's last day was understood to be April 30. The panel agreed to post the vacancy by Thursday, March 13. Applications will be due Monday, April 14, by noon. Chair said background checks are expected to return about April 25, between the application deadline and interviews.

Shelby, a staff member, was appointed secretary for the meeting and is charged with sending the vacancy notice and handling assignments. Shelby told the panel, "It doesn't appear we have anybody on the conference call line, but I'll leave the line open for the duration of the meeting." The panel agreed that if more than three applicants apply, Shelby will divide applicants among commission members for reference checks; if fewer, members will handle checks on their own.

Members discussed interview format and venue. One commission member said, "I hate Zoom. I would prefer live." Several members expressed a preference for in-person interviews; the chair noted the interviews are streamed on YouTube and that the group could use a hangar venue used previously if the owner makes it available. The group also agreed not to plan a lunch service for the interview day.

The panel coalesced around Tuesday, May 6, at 9 a.m. as the preferred interview date and time. The chair said staff will post the notice, collect applications, arrange background checks, and finalize logistics including venue and whether to invite the full commission to interview every applicant; the panel discussed interviewing all applicants unless the pool is unusually large. Exact thresholds mentioned in discussion ranged from "more than three" to hypothetical figures such as "8" or even "50," but the commission did not adopt a firm numerical cutoff during the call.

Next steps: the commission will post the vacancy March 13, accept applications through April 14 at noon, await background-check results around April 25, and plan interviews for May 6 at 9 a.m., subject to final confirmation of venue and participant availability.