According to The American Bar Association: "Five states initially select judges by appointment without a nominating commission. Fifteen states initially choose judges through merit selection with a nominating committee. Eight states choose their judges through partisan election. Thirteen states choose judges through nonpartisan election, and nine states choose their judges through merit selection combined with other methods." The American Judicature Society maintains a map, Judicial Selection Methods in the States, detailing the methods used in your state.

Use the links below to explore the matters before your state and local courts or explore the workings of the Federal Court System. Get more detail on the debate over judicial selection methods.

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Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Supreme Court Court of Civil Appeals Court of Criminal Appeals Circuit Courts Alabama Office of the Attorney General Alaska Alaska Department of Law Alaska Court System Appellate Courts (Supreme Ct, Ct of Appeals) Trial Courts calendars, records, etc. (Superior Ct, District Ct.) Court Directory (address information) Arkansas Judiciary Home Administrative Office of the Courts Judicial Directory Supreme Court Court of Appeals Circuit Courts District Courts City Courts Arkansas Attorney General Arizona Judicial Branch Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Court of Appeals - Division One Court of Appeals - Division Two Superior Courts (contact info) Justice of the Peace Courts Municipal Courts Arizona Attorney General California Judicial Branch Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Courts of Appeal Superior Courts California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General Colorado Judicial Branch Office of the State Court Administrator Supreme Court Court of Appeals District Courts Colorado Attorney General Connecticut Judicial Branch Office of the State Court Administrator Supreme and Appellate Court Superior Courts Connecticut Attorney General's Office Washington, D.C. Courts Home Court of Appeals Superior Court Office of the Corporation Council Delaware State Courts Home Supreme Court Court of Chancery Superior Court Court of Common Pleas Family Court Delaware Office of the Attorney General Florida State Courts Home Judicial Administration Supreme Court District Courts of Appeal Circuit Courts County Courts Florida Attorney General Georgia Judicial Branch Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Court of Appeals Superior Courts Office of the Attorney General of Georgia Hawaii Judiciary Home Supreme Court Intermediate Court of Appeals Circuit Courts Family Courts District Courts Hawaii Department of the Attorney General Iowa Judicial Branch Supreme Court Court of Appeals District Courts Iowa Attorney General Idaho State Judiciary District Courts Judicial Directory Tribal Court Idaho Office of the Attorney General Illinois Judiciary Home Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Appellate Court Circuit Courts Illinois Office of the 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Court District Courts Court Directory Judicial Directory Nevada Office of the Attorney General Ohio Supreme Court Courts of Appeal Court of Claims Court of Common Pleas Municipal Courts Ohio Attorney General Oklahoma Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Court of Criminal Appeals Court of Civil Appeals District Courts Judicial Directory Oklahoma Attorney General Oregon Courts Home Office of the State Court Administrator Supreme Court Court of Appeals Circuit Courts County Courts Justice Courts Department of Justice, State of Oregon Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Home Administrative Office of the Courts Supreme Court Commonwealth Court Superior Court Court of Common Pleas Pennsylvania General Assembly Rhode Island Judicial Home Supreme Court Superior Courts District Courts Family Courts Rhode Island Attorney General South Carolina Judicial Department Home Supreme Court Court of Appeals Circuit Courts South Carolina Attorney General South Dakota Unified Judicial System 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