(a) General. The Commission on Judicial Performance Review administers the process for reviewing the performance of judges subject to retention. For purposes of these rules, “Commission” means the Commission on Judicial Performance Review.

(b) Composition of the Commission. The Commission is comprised of up to 34 members appointed by the Supreme Court. The Commission's members may include up to 7 judges and up to 6 attorneys. Members of the public who are not attorneys or judges must be in the majority. A majority of the Commission members must be residents of counties that appoint judges through merit-selection.

(c) Diversity. The Supreme Court will solicit recommendations of candidates for appointment to the Commission. To promote fairness and public confidence in the Commission, qualified candidates for appointment must:

(d) Chair; Vice Chair. The Chief Justice of Arizona must appoint either an attorney member or public member as Commission Chair to preside at all Commission meetings. The Chair must select a Vice Chair from either the Commission's attorney members or public members so that the Chair and Vice Chair are not both attorney or public members. The Vice Chair presides at all meetings in the Chair's absence.

(e) Terms. Commission members serve 4-year terms and are eligible for reappointment. Terms begin July 1 and expire on June 30 of the year that is 4 years after the term began. If a vacancy occurs during a term, a member appointed to fill the vacancy serves the remainder of the unexpired term.

(f) Subcommittees. The Chair may create subcommittees or work groups of Commission members as needed to meet its responsibilities and accomplish its purpose. Such subcommittees or work groups are exempt from the quorum requirement in Rule 4(c)(1). By a simple majority of the eligible votes cast, a subcommittee or work group may recommend action to the full Commission.

(g) Correspondence. Only the Chair or Vice Chair, acting at the direction of the Chair, may sign Commission correspondence.

(h) Spokesperson. The Commission Chair may select a Commission member to communicate with the media about the judicial performance evaluation process and the Commission's actions on judges eligible for retention.