The commission investigates all statements made in the candidate’s Application for Appointment that the candidate submits to the Governor’s office. It is made up of attorneys and public members who represent a broad cross-section of California’s diverse legal profession and general population.
Active members of the State Bar, former members of the judiciary and members of the public who are interested in volunteering to serve on the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE) may apply for an appointment. The application deadline is this Friday May 4, 2018.
Members of the JNE Commission
- are volunteer attorneys and public members (non-lawyers).
- investigate the governor’s candidates for judicial appointment while maintaining a code of strict confidentiality. (The JNE Commission cannot nominate or appoint judges.)
- serve terms of approximately one year (beginning February 1) and may serve up to three consecutive terms.
Qualifications
- Applications are sought from attorneys and members of the public who have the skills and experience to assess candidates for judicial appointment and to provide timely and well-written reports.
- Attorney commissioners must be active members in good standing with the State Bar of California, with a preference for those in practice 10 years or more.
- Consideration will be given to attorney applicants who have substantial litigation, trial and/or appellate experience.
- Commission membership may include one or more former members of the judiciary; those with appellate backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Workload and time commitment
- Required to attend a two-day orientation meeting (date to be scheduled on Thursday-Saturday between mid-January and March 1, 2018) in San Francisco and be able to commit at least 35-40 hours each month or approximately 55 working days per year.
- Time commitment includes 20-24 meeting days and 20-35 days to complete assignments.
- Meetings are two to three days every second month (generally Friday, Saturday and occasionally Sunday) and alternate between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- Evaluations of candidates typically are assigned by area and caseload.
- Commission members usually work in teams of two to four. Typically, each team will have three to four assignments.Each assignment typically requires an average of 10 hours preparation plus travel time to conduct one to two-hour candidate interviews.
- Commissioners are expected to prepare and mail hundreds of evaluation forms for each candidate.
- Commissioners frequently must travel outside their county and geographic area to conduct interviews.
- When possible, interviews are conducted at one of the State Bar’s offices. Commissioners are reimbursed for approved travel in accordance with State Bar policy and the commission’s authorized budget.