THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS HAS RECOMMENDED THAT STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS BE MOLDED INTO UNIFIED COURT SYSTEMS HEADED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICES OF THE STATE SUPREME COURTS AND THAT STATES USE A MERIT SYSTEM FOR MAKING JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS. IN 1976, COLORADO, GEORGIA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND WEST VIRGINIA ADOPTED LAWS THAT WILL UNIFY THEIR COURT SYSTEMS. CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, VERMONT, AND WYOMING ENACTED PROVISIONS FOR SELECTING AND/OR REMOVING JUDGES ON A MERIT BASIS. STATE DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTIONS IN MAINE, NEW JERSEY, AND RHODE ISLAND WERE RESTRUCTURED IN 1976. IN THE SAME YEAR, ALABAMA ENACTED A LAW ALLOWING PRISONERS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS, AND COLORADO AUTHORIZED ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS. SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONS ARE PRESENTED OF THESE ACTIONS AND OF RELATED ACTIVITIES IN ALASKA, HAWAII, MASSACHUSETTS, MINNESOTA, NEVADA, AND RHODE ISLAND. ONE TABLE SHOWS WHICH OF THE 50 STATES USE STATE COURT ADMINISTRATORS, FLEXIBLE ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES, UNIFORM RULES OF COURT PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE, AND INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURTS. OTHER TABLES SHOW THE STATES' METHODS OF DISCIPLINING, REMOVING, AND SELECTING JUDGES.