Proposed Changes to Rules Governing Comments on Federal Nominees

The Eleventh Circuit earlier this week announced its intent to modify rules and regulations governing the selection and review of nominees for various judicial offices [.pdf]. The revised rules would allow commenters on the qualifications of nominees to request confidentiality. However, if the selection committee determines the commenter’s name should be revealed so that the applicant can respond fully, the commenter will be given the option to withdraw the comment before the commenter’s identity is revealed. This basic change would be made to three addenda to the Rules and Regulations of the Judicial Council of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and would apply to nominees for appointment or reappointment as Bankruptcy Judge (Addendum 6 [.pdf]), Federal Public Defenders (Addendum 7 [.pdf]), and Bankruptcy Administrators (Addendum 9 [.pdf]). Comments to these proposed rule changes are due by August 31, 2012.