Research

Administrative History

The governor had the authority to appoint a judge or a justice to the supreme court if a position became vacant before expiration of a regular term. This authority was conferred on the government by the State Constitution of 1846. The governor was given the authority (L. 1848, Ch. 379) to appoint extraordinary general and special terms, circuit courts, and courts of oyer and termines whenever in his judgment "the public good shall require it." This same chapter also required that all appointments of judges and court terms be filed with the secretary of state, who was required to publish them. After 1905, the governor's Certificates of Designation of Judges were filed along with the "Assignment of Judges and Court Terms for the State Supreme Court."