Vermont Supreme Court

The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, it hears appeals directly from the trial courts, because Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices, who are appointed by the governor with confirmation by the Vermont Senate, and all justices come up for retention at the same time every six years, with the General Assembly voting by secret ballot after a review by a joint committee. Any Vermont judge may also be removed by impeachment or on the recommendation of the Judicial Conduct Board, and judges must retire at age 90. The current chief justice is Paul L. Reiber, who joined the court as an associate justice in October 2003 and became chief justice on December 17, 2004. The court also holds overall administrative control of the Vermont court system and makes administrative and procedural rules for all courts.