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Nancy Waples
2022 - Present
2029
3
Nancy Waples is a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court. She assumed office on April 15, 2022. Her current term ends on March 31, 2029.
Waples was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court in February 2022 by Gov. Phil Scott (R) using assisted appointment.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Waples was a judge of the superior courts in Vermont. She was appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin on December 29, 2014, for a term that expires in 2021.[2]
Biography
Waples received her bachelor's degree from the College of William of Mary in 1982, and her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in 1987.[2] Prior to her judicial appointment to the Vermont Superior Court, Waples was an attorney at the law firm of Hoff Curtis.[2]
Elections
2023
Waples was retained by the Vermont General Assembly on March 28, 2023 for a six-year term.[3]
Appointments
2022
Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) appointed Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court on February 25, 2022.[4] The Vermont State Senate unanimously confirmed Waples on March 25, 2022.[5] Waples succeeded Beth Robinson, who left the state supreme court in November 2021, following her elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[6][7] Waples was Gov. Scott's third nominee to the five-member supreme court.
At the time of the vacancy under Vermont law, the five justices of the Vermont Supreme Court were selected through assisted appointment where the governor appoints a judge from a nominating commission's list and the Vermont Senate confirms the appointee. Once confirmed, appointees would serve six-year terms. At the end of each term, judges would face retention by a vote of the Vermont General Assembly.[8]
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.[8] Once confirmed, appointees serve six-year terms. At the end of each term, judges face retention by a vote of the Vermont General Assembly.[8]
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.[8]
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.[9] 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
- ↑ Vermont Judiciary, "Judge Nancy Waples to be Sworn in as Vermont's Next Associate Justice," accessed April 20, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, "GOV. SHUMLIN APPOINTS BURLINGTON ATTORNEY NANCY WAPLES TO SUPERIOR COURT," December 29, 2014
- ↑ VTdigger, "Several Vermont judges and all Supreme Court justices get more bench time," accessed September 26, 2023
- ↑ Office of Governor Phil Scott, "Governor Phil Scott Appoints Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court," February 25, 2022
- ↑ Vermont Business Magazine, "Governor Scott hails confirmation of Nancy Waples to Supreme Court," March 25, 2022
- ↑ The White House, "President Biden Names Sixth Round of Judicial Nominees," August 5, 2021
- ↑ Vermont Judiciary, "Memorandum: Information Concerning Judicial Vacancy (Associate Justice)," November 18, 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Vermont," accessed August 20, 2021 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "general" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 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
