Sponsor: Representative C. Newton

Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, candidates for circuit or district court judgeships are nominated by political parties and are included on the general election ballots in a column under the party name and emblem. This bill would provide for the nonpartisan election of candidates for circuit and district court judgeships, would provide for a filing fee to be paid by the candidates to be deposited into the State General Fund, and would provide for filing with the Secretary of State an affidavit of indigency in lieu of payment of the filing fee.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL is monitoring HB340. See Note below.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/24/2011: 1st Reading and referred to Constitution, Campaigns and Elections.

Note: League opposes the partisan election of judges, supports a system of merit selection of judges in which judges are appointed after being recommended by a nonpartisan commission and are subject to a nonpartisan retention vote for subsequent elections. League has not studied or adopted a formal position on the nonpartisan election of judges.