17-4-118 - Trial court judges Appointments Expiration of terms Elections.
17-4-118. Trial court judges Appointments Expiration of terms Elections.
(a) After July 1, 2009, when a vacancy occurs in the office of a state trial court judge by death, resignation or otherwise, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointing one (1) of the three (3) persons nominated by the judicial nominating commission.
(b) The term of a judge appointed under this section shall expire on August 31 after the next regular August election recurring more than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs.
(c) The judicial nominating commission shall follow the process established in § 17-4-109, except that the commission shall hold a public meeting in the judicial district from which the vacancy is to be filled.
(d) If the judicial district is one (1) of the five (5) smallest judicial districts according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the judicial nominating commission may submit two (2) names to the governor.
(e) At the next regular August election recurring more than thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs, the qualified voters of the district shall elect a candidate to fill the remainder of the unexpired term or a complete term, as provided in the general election law in title 2.
[Acts 2009, ch. 517, § 1.]