The following provisions shall apply to all commissions:

(a) The public, the judiciary, and The Missouri Bar shall be permitted to provide comments regarding the nomination of any individual. Comments may be made in writing or orally.

(b) A copy of all written communications between a commission member and any other person or organization regarding the qualifications or potential nomination of any candidate shall be provided to all other commission members.

(c) All oral communications between a commission member and any other person or organization regarding the qualifications or potential nomination of any candidate shall be summarized in writing by the commission member, and a copy of the summary shall be provided to all other commission members.

(d) All communications between a commission member and any other person or organization shall be deemed confidential and not disclosed to anyone not a member of the commission, except as otherwise provided in this Rule 10.

(e) If a commission member is aware of any possible conflict of interest he or she has with a candidate or if, for any reason, a commission member is unable to vote on any candidate solely in accordance with the relative merits of that candidate, the commission member shall disqualify himself or herself or report the same to the other commission members.

(f) The commission shall actively seek out and encourage qualified individuals, including women and minorities, to apply for judicial office. The commission shall further take into consideration the desirability of the bench reflecting the racial and gender composition of the community. Each commission member, however, shall cast his or her votes solely in accordance with the relative merits of the applicants so as to select the three best qualified nominees.

(g) Each commission shall adopt:

(1) A uniform application form similar to that used by The Appellate Judicial Commission;

(2) Rules for voting, available in advance to the candidates, that shall prohibit cumulative voting whereby a commission member casts multiple votes on the same ballot for the same candidate; and 

(3) Policies to provide professional training for each commission member, shortly after appointment, concerning the member's constitutional, statutory, and other duties, including familiarization with the Missouri Judicial Nominating Commission Guidelines for Interviewing.