Editing State supreme court (section)

== Selection ==
[[File:USStateSupremeCourtSelection.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Processes for selecting state supreme court judges:<br/>
{{legend|#01640d|Gubernatorial appointment, judges serve a single term{{efn|Massachusetts and New Hampshire have mandatory retirement ages, while Rhode Island has life tenure.}}}}
{{legend|#03cf1c|Gubernatorial appointment and re-appointment}}
{{legend|#74ff74|Gubernatorial appointment, other body re-appoints{{efn|In Hawaii, a judicial commission re-appoints judges, while in Vermont, the legislature re-appoints judges.}}}}
{{legend|#15c6df|Gubernatorial appointment, followed by retention election{{efn|Many, though not all, of the states in this category use the [[Missouri Plan]]. In New Mexico, judges are initially appointed by the governor, then face a partisan election; after that initial partisan election, judges win new terms through retention elections.}}}}
{{legend|#b00442|Legislative appointment and re-appointment}}
{{legend|#040eb0|Non-partisan elections{{efn|Montana makes use of non-partisan retention elections at the end of a judge's term.}}}}
{{legend|#a04a0a|Partisan elections}}
{{legend|#f16e0d|Partisan election, followed by retention election}}
]]

State supreme court judges are selected in a variety of ways, with the method of selection often depending on the circumstances in which the seat is filled. Under one common method, the [[Missouri Plan]], the governor fills judicial vacancies by choosing from a list compiled by a non-partisan commission. These judges serve an interim term until they stand in a [[retention election]], in which they win a full term if a majority of voters vote for retention. Many other states elect judges through non-partisan elections in which multiple candidates appear on the ballot without their partisan affiliation listed. Most of the remaining states base their judicial selection system on gubernatorial appointments or partisan elections, although several states use a mix of different methods. South Carolina and Virginia use a system of legislative appointment, while in Vermont, the governor makes the initial appointment of judges, but the legislature has the power to re-appoint judges to new terms.<ref name="brennanfigures"/>

Various other factors can influence the appointment and re-appointment of state supreme court judges. Most judicial selection systems involving gubernatorial appointment make use of a [[Judicial nominating commission|nominating commission]] to recommend a list of candidates from which the governor must choose, but a minority of states allow the governor to nominate candidates even if they were not recommended by the commission. Many of the states that use gubernatorial appointment require the appointment to be confirmed by the state legislature or some other body, such as the [[Massachusetts Governor's Council]]. Although most states limit judicial terms to a set number of years, judges in Massachusetts and New Hampshire serve until they reach a mandatory retirement limit, while in Rhode Island, judges serve lifetime appointments. Most judges represent the entire state, but in Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi, judges represent districts of the state. Many states, including some states in which the governor is not otherwise involved in the appointment process, allow the governor to make interim appointments to fill judicial vacancies.<ref name="brennanfigures">{{cite news |title=Judicial Selection: Significant Figures |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/judicial-selection-significant-figures |publisher=Brennan Center |date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>

In many states with judicial elections, political contributions from groups such as trade associations and political action committees are allowed.<ref>[http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/civil-liberties/report/2012/08/13/11974/big-business-taking-over-state-supreme-courts/ Big Business Taking over State Supreme Courts: How Campaign Contributions to Judges Tip the Scales Against Individuals]. AmericanProgress.org.</ref>

===Removal===

The various states provide different methods for the removal of state supreme court judges during their terms, with many states providing multiple methods. Two common methods of removal are impeachment by the state legislature, and removal by state judicial boards or commissions. Other states provide for the removal of judges through [[recall election]]s, court action, gubernatorial action (with legislative consent), or through a resolution passed by a super-majority in both houses of the state legislature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Removal of Judges |url=http://www.judicialselection.us/judicial_selection/methods/removal_of_judges.cfm?state= |website=National Center for State Courts |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>