Final answer:
The fewest number of states select appellate court judges through an election process. Judges review cases under appellate jurisdiction and have varying terms of service depending on the state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lowest number of states select appellate court judges through a process known as election. Each state has its own method of selecting judges to its appellate courts. In states like Michigan, for example, state judges at all levels including the appellate courts are elected and serve fixed terms. The appellate courts, often referred to as circuit courts or courts of appeals, review the decisions of the lower court's decision rather than conducting trials. Their rulings can be appealed to the highest court in the state or the U.S. Supreme Court if there is a constitutional question or differing interpretations of law.
Selection methods for appellate judges vary by state, but the election is the least commonly used method, with the majority of jurisdictions using appointments or a hybrid of appointment and election known as merit selection. The associate justice in these courts reviews cases under appellate jurisdiction and has the power to uphold, reverse, or remand the decisions made by lower courts.