a. Every applicant shall complete and file with the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court a signed original “Application for Nomination to Judicial Office” and a .pdf version of the application, in the manner instructed in the public announcement for each judicial vacancy. The application shall be on a form approved by the Supreme Court. The signed original paper application governs should discrepancies exist with the .pdf version.

b. The original application and the .pdf version filed by an applicant not appointed by the Governor shall be retained for one year after the application deadline date stated on the first page of the application. All documents received with respect to the person's application shall also be retained for one year. At an applicant's request, the original application, the .pdf version, and any supplemental material submitted by the applicant will be returned to the applicant during the one year period. Otherwise all documents and the .pdf shall be retained and provided to the Commission that originally considered the application if a new vacancy arises during the one year period. The applicant can withdraw his or her application for any or all vacancies occurring during that period by notifying the Commission in writing of the withdrawal. At the expiration of the one year period, any applications, .pdf files and supplemental materials retained by the Commission shall be destroyed and deleted.

c. Applications, .pdf files, and documents on file for each judicial vacancy shall be provided to the members of the appropriate Commission at least seven (7) calendar days before the first Commission meeting concerning each vacancy.

d. Except as provided hereafter, information provided to the Commission by the applicant or by a third party shall be available to the public. The following information shall be confidential throughout the nomination process.