Meeting Notice - September 5, 2008

MEETING LOCATION: 
Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort
26000 W. Gila Bend Highway
Casa Grande, Arizona 85222

9:00 a.m. Call to Order - Roberta Voss
  
1.   Approval of July 9, 2008 Minutes

9:15 a.m. Discussion Items
 
2. 2008 Voter Information Efforts Roberta Voss/Cari Gerchick

3. 2009 / 2010 Event Calendars Roberta Voss

    Should meetings be longer or more frequent?

4. Data Center RFP / Bid Review Annette Corallo

5. Discussion Topics for Possible Rule Changes Roberta Voss

    A.   Review Process and Elements

         1. Should the rules specifically require Commission discussion of  
             performance data, judges' letters and judge appearances before 
             voting?  Or is this a scheduling matter?  Should the meeting at which
             the judges appear be extended to accommodate discussion at the 
             end of the appearances?  [Rule 2(e)]
   
         2. Should judges who receive letters be required to appear, rather than
             having the option to write, appear or not respond?  [Rule 6(e)(2)]

         3.   Is a rule needed to clarify whether judges may testify on behalf of 
               other judges before the Commission as a form of public comment? 
               [Rule 6(d)]

         4. If staff ratings are reviewed by the Commission and factored in the
             Commission's findings, should they also be given to the public in the
             Voter Guide and at the website?  [Rule 6(b)]

         5. Should disciplinary actions by the Commission on Judicial Conduct
             be specifically referenced in the rules as a factor in performance
             review?  [Rule 6(e)(1)]

   B.  When Standards Are Not Met

         1. Should judges have the right to inspect the survey forms used to 
             compile the data before the Commissions vote on findings? 
             [Rule 7]

         2. Should a judge found not to meet standards have the right to submit
             a statement for inclusion in the Voter Guide?  If so, should the rules
             allow the Commission to comment on or respond to the statement? 
             [New Rule]

   C.  Voting

         1. Should a member be prohibited from voting on a specific judge if 
             they are not present when the judge appears?  [Rule 6(e)(3)]

         2. Should members' votes be secret?  [Rule 6(e)(3)]

         3. Should members be allowed to abstain from voting in the absence 
             of a defined or stated conflict with voting on a particular judge?  If 
             the review of the judges remains anonymous, should members    
             have the option to state a conflict and then be told which code is 
             assigned to a particular judge so that the member may abstain? 
             [Rule 5(c)(2)]

         4. Should members be able to explain their votes in the public
              meeting? If so, will the rules need to be changed so that the
             judges' reviews, including discussion of response letters and the
             judges' appearances, are conducted in public session, so as not to
             violate the confidentiality of executive session in explaining votes?
             [Rules 2(e) and 6(e)(3)]

    D.  Conference Teams

          1.   Should the midterm Conference Team report be considered by
                the Commission before making findings?  [Rule 4(h)]

          2.   Should Conference Teams be prohibited from including items
                in the team reports that are not discussed at the meeting with
                the judge?  Or is it implicit in the current rule that team reports
                should reflect the discussion at the meeting?  [Rule 4(h)]
 
   E.   Reflecting Current Practice

         1.   Should the reference to legislative members be eliminated?
               [Rule 2]

         2.   Should the rules regarding the chairperson and secretary of the
               Conference Teams be revised to reflect common team
               practices, in accordance with 2007 workgroup 
               recommendations?  [Rules 4(b) and 4(c)]

Next Meeting Date - Roberta Voss
  
November 21, 2008:  9:00 a.m. -  Noon
Casa Grande (Location TBD)

11:55 a.m. Call to the Public - Roberta Voss

12:00 p.m. Adjournment - Roberta Voss

JPR WEBSITE:  http://www.azjudges.info/