Judicial appointments: demographic data.

Existing law requires the Governor, the designated agency of the State Bar responsible for the evaluation of judicial candidates, and the Administrative Office of the Courts to annually collect demographic data relating to judicial applicants, judicial appointees or nominees, judicial candidates, and justices and judges, as specified, relative to ethnicity, race, and gender. These entities are required to release the demographic data on or before March 1 of each year. Existing law encourages members of judicial selection advisory committees to recommend candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures, as specified. This bill would expand these provisions to include the collection of demographic data relative to disability and veteran status, as defined. The bill would provide that the collection of this demographic data is required only for judicial applicants, candidates, appointees, nominees, justices, and judges who apply, or are reviewed, appointed, nominated, or elected, on or after January 1, 2014, and would require the release of this data to begin in 2015. The bill would encourage the Governor and members of judicial selection advisory committees to give particular consideration to candidates from diverse backgrounds and cultures, as specified.