Pa House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hearing

The Judiciary Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives holds a public hearing at the National Constitution Center on March 1, 2012. The hearing concerns two bills, House Bills 1815 and 1816, that would replace elections of judicial candidates with a merit selection system for judges.

The legislation proposes a judicial selection process with four steps: (1) screening and evaluation by a citizens’ nominating commission that recommends the most qualified candidates to the governor; (2) nomination by the governor of a candidate from the commission’s list; (3) confirmation by the Senate; and (4) after a number of years on the bench, retention in a nonpartisan yes-no vote by the public.

The hearing will take place at 1:30 pm in the Kirby Auditorium at the National Constitution Center at 525 Arch Street.

The hearing is open to the public and free --- no reservations are necessary.