Sec. 2. (a) The judicial nominating commission shall submit to the governor, from those names the commission considers for a vacancy, the names of only the three (3) most highly qualified candidates. In determining which candidates are most highly qualified each commission member shall evaluate each candidate, in writing, on the following considerations:

(1) Legal education, including law schools attended and education after law school, and any academic honors and awards achieved.

(2) Legal writings, including legislative draftings, legal briefs, and contributions to legal journals and publications.

(3) Reputation in the practice of law, as evaluated by attorneys and judges with whom the candidate has had professional contact, and the type of legal practice, including experience and reputation as a trial lawyer or trial judge.

(4) Physical condition, including general health, stamina, vigor, and age.

(5) Financial interests, including any interest that might conflict with the performance of judicial responsibilities.

(6) Activities in public service, including writings and speeches concerning public affairs and contemporary problems, and efforts and achievements in improving the administration of justice.

(7) Any other pertinent information that the commission feels is important in selecting the most highly qualified individuals for judicial office.

(b) The commission may not make an investigation to determine these considerations until the individual states in writing that the individual desires to hold a judicial office that has been or will be created by a vacancy and that the individual consents to the public disclosure of information under subsections (d) and (g).

(c) The commission shall inquire into the personal and legal backgrounds of each candidate by investigations made independent from the statements on an application of the candidate or in an interview with the candidate. In completing these investigations, the commission may use information or assistance provided by:

(1) a law enforcement agency;

(2) any organization of lawyers, judges, or individual practitioners; or

(3) any other person or association.

(d) The commission shall publicly disclose the names of all candidates who have filed for judicial appointment after the commission has received the consent required by subsection (b) but before the commission has begun to evaluate any of the candidates. If the commission's screening of the candidates for judicial appointment occurs in an executive session conducted under IC 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(10), the screening may not reduce the number of candidates for further consideration to fewer than ten (10) individuals unless there are fewer than ten (10) individuals from which to choose before the screening. When the commission's screening has reduced the number of candidates for further consideration to not less than ten (10) or it has less than ten (10) eligible candidates otherwise from which to choose, the commission shall:

(1) publicly disclose the names of the individuals and their applications before taking any further action; and

(2) give notice of any further action in the same manner that notice is given under IC 5-14-1.5.

(e) Information described in subsection (d)(1) is identifying information for the purposes of IC 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(10).

(f) The commission shall submit with the list of three (3) nominees to the governor its written evaluation of each nominee, based on the considerations set forth in subsection (a). The list of names submitted to the governor and the written evaluation of each nominee shall be publicly disclosed by the commission.

(g) Notwithstanding IC 5-14-3-4, all public records (as defined in IC 5-14-3-2) of the judicial nominating commission are subject to IC 5-14-3-3, including records described in IC 5-14-3-4(b)(12). However, the following records are excepted from public inspection and copying at the discretion of the judicial nominating commission:

(1) Personnel files of commission employees and files of applicants for employment with the commission to the extent permitted under IC 5-14-3-4(b)(8).

(2) Records specifically prepared for discussion or developed during discussion in an executive session under IC 5-14-1.5-6.1, unless the records are prepared for use in the consideration of a candidate for judicial appointment.

(3) Investigatory records prepared for the commission under subsection (c) until:

(A) the records are filed or introduced into evidence in connection with the consideration of a candidate;

(B) the records are publicly discussed by the commission in connection with the consideration of a candidate;

(C) a candidate elects to have the records released by the commission; or

(D) the commission elects to release the records that the commission considers appropriate in response to publicly disseminated statements relating to the activities or actions of the commission;

whichever occurs first.

(4) Applications of candidates for judicial appointment who are not among the applicants eligible for further consideration following the commission's screening under subsection (d).

(5) The work product of an attorney (as defined in IC 5-14-3-2) representing the commission.

(h) When an event described by subsection (g)(3) occurs, the investigatory record becomes available for public inspection and copying under IC 5-14-3-3.

(i) As used in this subsection, "attributable communication" refers to a communication containing the sender's name, address, and telephone number. The commission shall provide a copy of all attributable communications concerning a candidate for judicial appointment to each member of the commission. An attributable communication becomes available for public inspection and copying under IC 5-14-3-3 after a copy is provided to each member of the commission. The commission may not consider a communication other than an attributable communication in evaluating a candidate for judicial appointment.

(j) The commission shall release the investigatory records prepared for the commission under subsection (c) to the candidate for judicial appointment described by the records.

[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-2.1-4-7.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.6.