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Vermont House advances bill to broaden judicial nominating board and selection criteria
Summary
The Vermont House amended and advanced H.780 to expand the Judicial Nominating Board, allow nominations by others, loosen a Vermont-practice timing requirement and add evaluation criteria aimed at increasing bench diversity. Supporters cited national studies on judicial underrepresentation; opponents asked for precision on terms and data.
The Vermont House on the floor advanced H.780 on second reading, approving amendments that would expand the Judicial Nominating Board and change how judicial candidates are nominated and evaluated.
Representative Rachelson, speaking for the House Judiciary Committee, said the bill would add one member to the judicial nominating board — the executive director of racial equity (or a designee) — and create a nomination process in addition to self-nominations. Rachelson said the changes respond to studies showing underrepresentation of women and people of color on state courts and aim to increase the diversity of applicants while retaining rigorous vetting.
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