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The JPEC conducts evaluations of judges and justices twice:
- midway through a judge's term in office for the purpose of improving his or her performance. Midterm evaluations are not released to the public; and
- before a retention election for the purpose of providing information to voters. The results of these evaluations are made available to the public at least 45 days before the retention election.
Evaluations are performed through:
- Confidential written surveys – We work with an independent research firm to develop and disseminate confidential written surveys to those individuals and professionals who have worked with or come in contact with the justice or judge being evaluated.
- Personal interviews with each judge/justice being evaluated – During confidential interviews, we share the results of the surveys with the justice or judge being evaluated. We also review their self-assessment of performance.
Following the interview, self-assessment and review of the survey results, the JPEC completes a draft recommendation of:
- Retain – recommend voting to retain judge
- Do not retain – recommend voting against retaining judge
- No opinion – not enough information available to make a recommendation
- Insufficient Time in Current Position to Evaluate – judge has not served for a sufficient period in current position (A judge must serve two years on the bench before he or she can be evaluated under JPEC rules)
The draft evaluation is then sent to the judge or justice to review and comment on the biographical information in the narrative.
Once the JPEC receives and reviews the judge’s or justice’s changes to the biographical information, it is revised if necessary, then finalized and included in the overall evaluation report.
The report is disseminated in a number of ways, including:
- Through the JPEC website
- Through a Report to Voters to be published and distributed in a variety of ways
- Through paid advertisements in newspapers, radio and television throughout the state
- Through publicity
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