President makes nomination. The President nominates a candidate to be a federal judge. The President can choose anyone, regardless of past experience, as long as the candidate meets certain constitutional qualifications.
Qualifications. To be nominated for a federal judgeship, a candidate must:
* Be at least 30 years old.
* Be a citizen of the United States.
* Have been admitted to the bar in the United States.
* Have at least 15 years of experience as a practicing attorney or as a judge of a state court of record.
Senate must confirm. The Senate must confirm the President's nomination. The Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings to evaluate the nominee's qualifications, experience, and temperament. The committee then votes to recommend the nomination to the full Senate. The full Senate votes to confirm or reject the nomination.
State Judges
The process of selecting state judges varies from state to state. In most states, judges are elected by voters in a partisan or nonpartisan election. In some states, judges are appointed by the governor, either with or without the advice and consent of the state legislature.
Local Judges
The process of selecting local judges also varies from state to state. In some states, local judges are elected by voters in a partisan or nonpartisan election. In other states, local judges are appointed by the mayor or county executive, either with or without the advice and consent of the city council or county board.