Vermont
Vermont’s highest court is the Vermont Supreme Court. The court has four associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen according to the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: Vermont Constitution)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates Vermont Supreme Court justices from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a six-year term. Justices may seek additional terms, in which a case a vote of the general assembly is held and the justice is retained unless a majority of the votes are against retention. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor nominates a candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a six-year term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 90.
State Constitution
Vermont has had three state constitutions adopted between 1777 and 1793. As of January 1, 2026, it had 56 amendments. (Data on file with John Dinan, Wake Forest University.)
The Vermont Constitution: Early Grievances, Notable Early Protections, Still Evolving
Filters
The Many Versions of State Constitutional Lockstepping
The practice of interpreting state constitutions identically to their federal counterpart is often criticized in blanket terms. But the ways state courts lockstep vary widely.
How State Courts Can Help Deflect the Supreme Court’s Latest Blow to Multiracial Democracy
State courts need not import a federal doctrine directing judges to avoid issuing rulings that could change election rules in the runup to an election.
“State Capture” and the Role of State Courts
State constitutions offer powerful tools for combatting control of state and local institutions by private interests.
State Courts Offer Protection Against Pregnancy Discrimination
Courts in almost two dozen states have rejected the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning that discrimination based on pregnancy is not sex discrimination.
How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
State Efforts to Allow Lawsuits Against Federal Officials Gain Speed
The approach of the proposed laws is legally sound, textually grounded, and more viable than many assume.
Closing Remarks
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments
The Tenacious Power of Constitutional Torts
Despite hurdles, civil rights litigation is a critical tool for people who have been harmed by the government and for those seeking long-lasting change.