Are state judge appointed or elected?

Answer 1

The selection of judges to state courts is variable.

Appointed:California, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia

Merit Selection:Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming

Nonpartisans Election: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin

Partisan Election:Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia

Governor or Legislative Appointment: In 4 states, judges are appointed by the

governor or (in South Carolina and Virginia) the legislature. Gubernatorial appointments

usually require the consent of the upper house of the legislature or the participation of a special commission such as an executive council. In most of these states, judges serve a term (ranging from 6 to 14 years) and then may be reappointed in the same manner. In Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, judges enjoy lifetime or near-lifetime tenure.

Merit Plan: In 23 states, judges are nominated by a nonpartisan commission, and

then appointed by the governor. Judges serve a term and then are subject to a retention election, where they run alone, and voters can either approve another term or vote against them. Terms vary but on the whole are less than those in appointment states.

Nonpartisan Election: In 15 states, judges run for election. Their political

affiliations are not listed on the ballot, and so voters, unless specifically informed, do not know a candidate's political party. These judges serve a term and then may run for

reelection. The terms range from 6 to 10 years.

Partisan Election: In 8 states, judges run for election as a member of a political

party. They serve a term in the range of 6 to 10 years for the most part and then may run for reelection.