3-1-1001. Creation, composition, and function of commission. (1) A judicial nomination commission for the state is created. Its function is to provide the governor with a list of candidates for appointment to fill any vacancy on the supreme court or any district court and to provide the chief justice of the supreme court with a list of candidates for appointment to fill any term or vacancy for the chief water judge pursuant to 3-7-221. The commission shall be composed of seven members as follows:
     (a) four lay members who are neither judges nor attorneys, active or retired, who reside in different geographical areas of the state, and each of whom is representative of a different industry, business, or profession, whether actively so engaged or retired, who shall be appointed by the governor;
     (b) two attorneys actively engaged in the practice of law, one from that part of the state that is composed of judicial districts 1 through 5, 9, 11, and 18 through 21 and one from that part of the state that is composed of judicial districts 6 through 8, 10, and 12 through 17, who shall be appointed by the supreme court;
     (c) one district judge elected by the district judges under an elective procedure initiated and conducted by the supreme court and certified to such election by the chief justice of the supreme court. The election shall be considered an appointment for the purposes of this part.
     (2) Appointments provided for in this section shall be made within 30 days of the completion of the preceding terms.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 470, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 30, Ch. 344, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 93-705; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 21, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 651, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 810, L. 1991.