The official machinery has begun moving to replace outgoing Ninth Judicial District county judge Jason Jovanovich, who recently withdrew from consideration for retention in the November general election.

Jovanovich was accused of inappropriate behavior toward his court staff and was suspended from his job in May, when he was escorted from the courtroom by deputy sheriffs after a day of court proceedings.

Although separate from the retention process, the suspension issues remain under review by state judicial officials, and Jovanovich remains on the state’s payroll until his term expires in January or he resigns.

The Ninth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on Aug. 30, in the Garfield Combined Courthouse, 109 8th St., Glenwood Springs, to interview and select nominees for the Rifle county judge’s job, which will be filled as an appointment by the governor.

Once appointed, the new judge will serve for two years and then will be eligible to stand for retention by the voters.

Jovanovich’s position will formally be vacant as of Jan. 11, 2011. To be eligible, an applicant must be a qualified voter of Garfield County, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and live in Rifle if appointed. The annual salary for the position is approximately $110,700.

Application forms are available from the office of the ex officio chair of the nominating commission, Justice Nancy E. Rice, 101 W. Colfax, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80202; and the office of the district administrator, Solveig Olson, 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs CO 81601.

Applications also are available on the court’s home page at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Careers/Judge.cfm, and must be submitted no later than noon on Aug. 20.

The members of the nominating commission for the Ninth Judicial District are: Terry Butler and William V. Hodges III, both of Aspen; John Real and Michael Sawyer, both of Glenwood Springs; Katherine Hays and Katherine Potter, both of Rifle; and Diana Watson of Meeker.