Judical Selection Process in Pa and Arizona
Pennsylvania and Arizona’s Judicial Selections
The United States has a unique court system. One of the elements that make it a unique system is the judicial selection process. The qualifications, method of selection and election and removal from the bench vary from state to state. The average person would believe there would be a Constitutional or statutory qualification to serve as a judge. This is not the case in the United States (Judicial Process in America 8th edition pg. 125 chapter 6). The states of Pennsylvania and Arizona have their own agenda when it comes to the judicial selection process. In the state of Pennsylvania justices must meet the basic qualifications to serve on the bench that the state has in place (www.pacourts.us). These qualifications include, being a United States citizen and must have lived in the state for at least one year (www.pacourts.us). Each judicial must also meet the age requirement to serve as well. A judge cannot serve, if they are under the age of twenty one or older than seventy (www.pacourts.us). Each judicial must be a member of the Bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and also hold a strict standard of conduct (www.pacourts.us). Once these basic qualifications are met, they are then ready to hopefully be elected. According to the judicial selection website, Pennsylvania does not use the Judicial Nominating Commissions as their method to selecting a justice to serve on the bench (www.judicialselctions.us). The justices run for election to gain a seat in the courts. They do this by campaigning and getting the necessary funds from donations and their political party. Elections in the state are held in odd numbered years. Once a justice is elected they can serve an unlimited amount of terms until the mandatory retirement age of seventy and are retained or re-elected by voters. Appellate Courts and Courts of Common Pleas judges serve ten year terms. All other court justices such as, Magisterial District and
The United States has a unique court system. One of the elements that make it a unique system is the judicial selection process. The qualifications, method of selection and election and removal from the bench vary from state to state. The average person would believe there would be a Constitutional or statutory qualification to serve as a judge. This is not the case in the United States (Judicial Process in America 8th edition pg. 125 chapter 6). The states of Pennsylvania and Arizona have their own agenda when it comes to the judicial selection process. In the state of Pennsylvania justices must meet the basic qualifications to serve on the bench that the state has in place (www.pacourts.us). These qualifications include, being a United States citizen and must have lived in the state for at least one year (www.pacourts.us). Each judicial must also meet the age requirement to serve as well. A judge cannot serve, if they are under the age of twenty one or older than seventy (www.pacourts.us). Each judicial must be a member of the Bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and also hold a strict standard of conduct (www.pacourts.us). Once these basic qualifications are met, they are then ready to hopefully be elected. According to the judicial selection website, Pennsylvania does not use the Judicial Nominating Commissions as their method to selecting a justice to serve on the bench (www.judicialselctions.us). The justices run for election to gain a seat in the courts. They do this by campaigning and getting the necessary funds from donations and their political party. Elections in the state are held in odd numbered years. Once a justice is elected they can serve an unlimited amount of terms until the mandatory retirement age of seventy and are retained or re-elected by voters. Appellate Courts and Courts of Common Pleas judges serve ten year terms. All other court justices such as, Magisterial District and
References: Carp, Robert A., Ronald Stidham, and Kenneth L. Manning. "chapter 6." Judicial process in America. 8th ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2011. 125. Print. "Judgepedia." Judgepedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. <http://www.judgepedia.org>. "Judicial Selection in the States." Judicial Selection in the States. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://www.judicialselection.us>. cases, court, the most recent court news, and statistics.. " Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania." Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. <http://www.pacourts.us>.