The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, shall adopt rules to carry out this paragraph consistent with election procedures in Title 21-A.__Rules adopted under this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill requires an advisory vote prior to the reappointment of a District Court Judge or a Superior Court Justice. The Governor may not reappoint the judge or justice if the vote is in the negative. If the vote supports the reappointment of the judge or justice, the Governor is not required to make that reappointment.

For Superior Court Justices, the election must be held in the county or counties in which the justice has sat in Superior Court during the previous 5 years. The election concerning a District Court Judge must be held in the judicial district or districts in which the judge sat in District Court during the previous 5 years.

The Secretary of State shall conduct the election. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, shall adopt rules consistent with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A to carry out the elections.