Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding membership of and appointments to the Judicial Council and to revise provisions regarding duties of the Judicial Council.

This legislation addresses the filling of judicial vacancies and changes the term of appointment from six (6) years to four (4) years. In addition, it does the following: (1) It changes the way the members of the Judicial Council are chosen. Currently the Idaho State Bar appoints three lawyers to the Council, with no review from the Governor’s office, comprising half of the Council’s membership. This legislation changes that process so the Bar recommends a slate for two positions, from which the Governor will appoint those two members to the Council, withconsentofthesenate. TheGovernorretainsauthoritytoappointtheotherhalfoftheCouncilwho are non-lawyers, with consent of the senate. (2) It changes the membership from seven (7) members to eight (8) members to add a magistrate judge as a permanent member of the Council and allows both the magistrate and district judge positions to be nominated by the Supreme Court, but still confirmed by the senate. Currently, the IdahoStateBaralsonominatesthedistrictjudgeposition. (3)ThislegislationalsoallowstheGovernortoreject a slate of nominees provided by the Judicial Council to fill a judicial vacancy. (4) It makes public information concerning the applicants to fill a judicial vacancy who are on a slate of applicants provided to the Governor for appointment. (5) It finally allows applicants to see survey comments which are solicited from Idaho State Bar members and the public, which previously were withheld from applicants, but provides that comments are not public. Providing comments to applicants can increase accountability for comments submitted in support or opposition of applicants.