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Committee advances amendment to allow party caucus nominations for judicial vacancies in multi‑county districts
Summary
The committee adopted an amendment to SB367 to permit party caucuses to nominate candidates for judicial vacancies (judges, district attorneys general, public defenders) in multi‑county districts when a vacancy arises after primary qualifying deadlines; the assistant coordinator of elections explained the drafting and qualifying-deadline cross‑references.
Chairman Briggs introduced amendment 011640 to SB367 to address a practical problem: when vacancies in multi‑county judicial districts occur after the window for primary nominations has closed, parties can lack a mechanism to nominate candidates. The chairman said the amendment ‘‘makes the bill’’ and called forward the assistant coordinator of elections for drafting clarification.
Beth Henry Robertson, assistant coordinator of elections in the Division of Elections, told the committee the amendment allows parties to caucus to nominate candidates for judges, district attorney generals and public defenders in multi‑county districts when the qualifying period has lapsed, and that the amendment incorporates qualifying‑deadline rules by reference to existing statute (discussed in hearing as 17‑4‑308). Committee members raised drafting questions about cross‑references and the scope of the provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill will move to the calendar.
