The judges appointed this way have a fixed term and are subject to reappointment by the legislature.
Gubernatorial is the second oldest method used, however only ten states continue to use it. In this process, the governor usually has the majority of the power to appoint judges to a fixed term, with some restrictions. Most of the time, the governor's appointee on the supreme court bench must be approved by either the legislature or an executive council. .
Also used in a few states, is the process of partisan elections. The candidates must receive nomination by their party through an election, party convention, or a party slating process. During the general election, the candidates who face each other must be from opposing parties. One of the most common methods of supreme court justice selection is nonpartisan elections. Candidates are listed on a ballot with no indication of their party affiliations. This method of selection is done in 14 states, including Louisiana.
The most commonly used method of judicial selection, is The Merit Plan. Sixteen states use at least some form of this three step method. In these states, (1) a nominating commission is formed in order to recruit and evaluate potential judges. (2) The governor will then appoint one of those nominees to the vacant spot for a short term, usually one to three years. (3) Lastly, after the new judge served that term, he or she will face the voters in a retention election. (Donovan, Mooney, Smith). In retention elections, voters must decide whether the judge, who just served the probationary term, should be allowed to be retained for another, longer term.
Through the process of merit selection, the qualifications of the candidates are more sifted through for the voters advantage, potential judges need not worry about campaigning and raising money to do so, and there is less events of judges having to see cases brought to them by attorneys who contributed to their campaign.