What governs the selection of municipal judges in a home-rule municipality?

• A. The city's charter
• B. The state constitution
• C. The municipal code
• D. Public referendum

Answer: (A)

In a home-rule municipality, the city’s own charter sets how its offices are organized and how officials are selected, including municipal judges. The charter functions like a miniature constitution for the city, giving it autonomy to decide whether judges are appointed or elected, what their terms and qualifications are, and how the selection process works. While the state constitution provides the broader framework, it does not replace the charter's specifics when the city is operating under home-rule authority. The municipal code contains local ordinances, not the primary method for selecting judges, unless the charter specifically authorizes codifying that process in the code. Public referendum is a vote by the people to approve changes, but it is the mechanism to approve changes to the charter or laws—not the document that governs the selection method itself.