While other states elect candidates for judicial positions, and some states follow the national model, using a body like the Senate to approve these nominations, Massachusetts has the Governor's Council.

A body of eight elected individuals, they are the only part of the process that is visible to the public.

In recent years, the council had become nothing more than a rubber stamp for whatever governor was in office.

Other players in the process, the Judicial Nominating Commission, the governor's chief legal counsel and the governor himself, have no requirements to report to the people of the Commonwealth. 

It is only the Governor's Council that is required to operate as a public forum, it is only through the Governor's Council that the public learns about the qualifications of the nominees, their history, and what they might bring to a position.

Other the next couple of weeks I will be posting about the council and the "hot" issues they are dealing with, "The oath", "The questionnaire", "The JNC", etc.