In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires: 1. "Candidate" means any person under consideration by the committee to fill a judicial vacancy. 2. "Chairman" means the chairman of the committee and includes any acting chairman. 3. "Committee" means the judicial nominating committee, consisting of six members in the event of a vacancy in the office of supreme court judge and nine members in the event of a vacancy in the office of a district court judge. 4. "Judge" means a justice of the supreme court or a judge of district court. 5. "Nominee" means any candidate selected by the committee for inclusion on the list of candidates submitted to the governor. 6. "Permanent member" means a person appointed to serve on the committee for all vacancies in the office of judge during that member's term. 7. "Temporary member" means a person appointed to serve on the committee only for the time necessary to fill a vacancy in the office of district judge in that member's district.
27-25-02. Creation and composition of committee - Terms of office - Appointment - Vacancies. 1. A judicial nominating committee is hereby created to consist of six permanent members and three temporary members. 2. The governor, the chief justice, and the president of the state bar association each shall appoint two permanent members to the committee, one of whom is a judge or an attorney authorized to practice law in the state and one of whom is not a judge, former judge, or attorney. The term of each member is three years. Initially, as determined by lot, two members shall serve for two years, and two members shall serve for one year. At the end of the member's term, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor for a full three-year term. No member may serve for more than two three-year terms. A vacancy must be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the term. The governor shall designate one of the members as chairman of the committee. 3. Each appointing authority shall appoint an additional temporary member, from the judicial district having a vacancy, to serve on the committee for the time necessary to fill the vacancy. If two or more vacancies in the office of district judge occur in one district at the same time, the committee may submit a combined list to the governor. 4. The judicial nominating committee for vacancies in the office of supreme court judge must be composed of the six permanent members. If two or more vacancies occur in the office of the supreme court judge at the same time, the committee may submit a combined list of candidates to the governor. 5. The executive director of the state bar association shall serve as nonvoting secretary of the committee.