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Vermont Supreme Court justice vacancy (November 2021)
| Vermont Supreme Court |
|---|
 |
| Robinson vacancy |
| Date: November 1, 2021 |
| Status: Seat filled |
| Nomination |
| Nominee: Nancy Waples |
| Date: February 25, 2022 |
Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) appointed Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court on February 25, 2022.[1] The Vermont State Senate unanimously confirmed Waples on March 25, 2022.[2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5]
Ballotpedia has compiled the following resources on the process to fill the Vermont Supreme Court vacancy:
- An overview of the appointee.
- An overview of the selection process.
- An overview of the court following the vacancy.
- An overview of the justice who left office.
- A list of other state supreme court appointments in 2021.
The appointee
- See also: Nancy Waples
Nancy Waples served on the Vermont Superior Court from 2015 to 2022. She was appointed to the court by Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) on December 29, 2014.[1]
Prior to her judicial appointment, Waples was an attorney in private law firms, the Criminal Justice Act coordinator for the District of Vermont, and a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York City.[1]
Waples earned a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.[1]
The selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Vermont
At the time of the vacancy, 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.[5]
Makeup of the court
- See also: Vermont Supreme Court
Justices
Following Robinson's retirement, the Vermont Supreme Court included the following members:
| ■ Paul Reiber | Appointed by Gov. Jim Douglas (R) in 2004 | |
| ■ Harold Eaton | Appointed by Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) in 2014 | |
| ■ Karen R. Carroll | Appointed by Gov. Phil Scott (R) in 2017 | |
| ■ William Cohen | Appointed by Gov. Phil Scott (R) in 2019 |
About the court
Founded in 1777, the Vermont Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current chief of the court is Paul Reiber. In 2018, the court decided 455 cases.
As of August 2025, three judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor and one was appointed by a Democratic governor.
The Vermont Supreme Court is located in Montpelier, Vermont.[6]
About Justice Robinson
- See also: Beth Robinson
Justice Beth Robinson joined the Vermont Supreme Court in 2011. She was appointed to the court by Governor Peter Shumlin (D).[7][8]
Before serving on the state supreme court, Robinson served as legal counsel for Gov. Shumlin and worked in private practice.[7]
Robinson received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1986 and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1989.[7]
Other state supreme court appointments in 2021
- See also: State supreme court vacancies, 2021
The following table lists vacancies on state supreme courts that opened in 2021. Click the link under the Court column for a particular vacancy for more information on that vacancy.
Click here for vacancies that opened in 2020.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Vermont," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Vermont Judiciary, "Supreme Court," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Vermont Bar Foundation, "Beth Robinson Appointed to Vermont Supreme Court," October 19, 2011
- ↑ Office of the Vermont Governor, "Updated: Get to Know Vermont's Next Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson," October 18, 2011
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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
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