# Question 2: Temporary Appointments on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities (constitutional amendment)  
**In one sentence:** This amendment allows temporary substitute appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities when a member is recused, disqualified, or when a term expires, ensuring continuity of the Commission’s work.  

## What a FOR vote does  
Supports allowing the Commission Chair to recall former members or the Governor to appoint temporary substitutes when vacancies occur due to recusal, disqualification, or term expiration. Temporary appointees must meet the same constitutional qualifications as the member they replace.  

## What an AGAINST vote does  
Maintains current rules, which require vacancies to be filled by the Governor’s appointment with Senate approval. Temporary appointments are not permitted under existing law.  

## Strongest case FOR  
1. **Ensures continuity**: The Commission on Judicial Disabilities investigates judicial misconduct and recommends discipline. Without temporary appointments, vacancies could delay critical oversight (Ballotpedia).  
2. **Legal clarity**: The amendment specifies that temporary appointees must meet the same qualifications as permanent members, preventing lower-standard replacements (Maryland General Assembly, SB 933).  
3. **Support from experts**: Judge Anne Korbel Albright, the Commission Chair, endorsed the amendment, stating it would prevent disruptions to the Commission’s work (Ballotpedia).  

## Strongest case AGAINST  
1. **Maintains established process**: Current rules require Senate approval for appointments, ensuring checks and balances (Maryland General Assembly).  
2. **Avoids potential conflicts**: Critics argue temporary appointments could create ambiguity about authority, especially if a substitute is not fully vetted (Ballotpedia).  

## If you care most about...  
- **Accountability of judges**: **FOR** fits, because the Commission’s work to investigate misconduct remains uninterrupted.  
- **Legal process**: **AGAINST** fits, because current rules prioritize Senate oversight.  
- **Efficiency**: **FOR** fits, as temporary appointments prevent delays.  
- **Transparency**: **AGAINST** fits, as the current process ensures deliberate, transparent appointments.  

## Who supports and who opposes  
- **Supporters**: Judge Anne Korbel Albright (Commission Chair), Maryland State Bar Association (asserts the amendment ensures uninterrupted oversight) [Ballotpedia].  
- **Opponents**: Not found in sources checked.  

## What we could not verify  
- Specific campaign contributions or detailed arguments from opposition groups.  
- Long-term impacts of temporary appointments on the Commission’s effectiveness.  

## Confidence  
**High**  
Sources include official documents (Maryland General Assembly, SB 933) and non-partisan analyses (Ballotpedia). The text of the amendment and its implications are consistently described across verified sources.  

## Sources  
1. [Maryland Elections - Question 2 Text](https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/ballot_questions.html)  
2. [Ballotpedia: Maryland Question 2](https://ballotpedia.org/Maryland_Question_2%2C_Commission_on_Judicial_Disabilities_Vacancies_Amendment_%282026%29)  
3. [Maryland General Assembly, SB 933 (Ch. 878)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_878_sb0933T.pdf)  
4. [Ballotpedia: Support for Amendment](https://ballotpedia.org/Maryland_2026_ballot_measures)