I just read a new rule I knew nothing about and feel maybe others havent heard as no one seems to be talking about it.
Local and regional specialties can hire ANYONE they feel will be knoledgable to judge there breed.
This will open up a great new group of people whose opinions are worth there weight in gold.
Thumbs up to the AKC.

Can I ask where did you see this? I cannot find anything about it on the AKC website. Judges need to be liscensed first to give out points, even foreign judges need to meet certain criteria to judge here, so this would be a big change if it is true.

I thought it was just for national specialties. I think I read it on the secretary's page at AKC.org

It must come from the parent club after they set some criteria, approved by AKC. Not sure if it's been passed yet, it may only be out for comment.

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I spoke to our local AKC rep and that is what he told me - National Specialties only.