Michael Drescher
Michael Drescher is a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court. Drescher assumed office on February 6, 2026. Drescher's current term ends on January 1, 2032.
Drescher first became a member of the Vermont Supreme Court through an appointment. Phil Scott first appointed him to the court in 2026 to the seat vacated by Karen R. Carroll.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Appointments
2026
On January 5, 2026, Governor Phil Scott (R) nominated Michael Drescher to replace Vermont Supreme Court Justice Karen R. Carroll, who retired on August 23, 2025.[2][3] Drescher was confirmed on February 6, 2026, and was sworn in the same day. Drescher is Gov. Scott's fourth nominee to the five-member supreme court.
In Vermont, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a hybrid judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission who has no majority of members selected either by the governor or the state Bar Association. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here.
When the state Senate is in session, midterm vacancies are filled by the same assisted appointment method otherwise used to select judges. If the Senate is not in session, the governor may choose to make an interim appointment until the Senate convenes and acts upon the appointment. The appointed justice will serve until the Senate consents to the appointment. If the appointment is confirmed, the appointee will serve a six-year term. If the appointment is not confirmed by the Senate, the judicial office will be vacated.[4]
State supreme court judicial selection in Vermont
- See also: Judicial selection in Vermont
The five justices of the Vermont Supreme Court are selected through assisted appointment. The governor selects a nominee from a list of recommended candidates from a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by the Vermont Senate.[5] Once confirmed, appointees serve six-year terms. At the end of each term, judges face retention by a vote of the Vermont General Assembly.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on the Vermont Supreme Court, a judge must:
- be a state resident; and
- have practiced law as an attorney or served as a judge in the state for at least 10 years, with five years preceding their application to the commission.
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is chosen through the same assisted appointment method as the other judges on the court and serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[5]
Vacancies
When the state Senate is in session, midterm vacancies are filled by the same assisted appointment method otherwise used to select judges. If the Senate is not in session, the governor may choose to make an interim appointment until the Senate convenes and acts upon the appointment. The appointed justice will serve until the Senate consents to the appointment. If the appointment is confirmed, the appointee will serve a six-year term. If the appointment is not confirmed by the Senate, the judicial office will be vacated.[6] There is one current vacancy on the Vermont Supreme Court, out of the court's five judicial positions.
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of Governor Phil Scott, “Governor Phil Scott Appoints Christina Nolan and Michael Drescher to the Vermont Supreme Court" accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ Vermont Judiciary, "Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice Karen Carroll to Retire in August," April 9, 2025
- ↑ State of Vermont Judicial Nominating Board, "Information Concerning Judicial Vacancy (Associate Justice)," May 9, 2025
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "Judiciary Department - § 33. Interim judicial appointments," accessed April 18, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Vermont," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "Judiciary Department - § 33. Interim judicial appointments," accessed April 18, 2023
Federal courts:
Second Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Vermont • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Vermont
State courts:
Vermont Supreme Court • Vermont Superior Courts • Vermont Probate Court • Vermont Judicial Bureau
State resources:
Courts in Vermont • Vermont judicial elections • Judicial selection in Vermont
