Special interests are spending more than ever on state high court races. This is not without cause and deep implications for democracy.
Judicial Elections articles on Democracy Chronicles
Judicial elections in the United States have undergone a dramatic transformation recently. Today, partisan political groups are spending big money to elect their favorite judges raising serious issues of independence, integrity and impartiality. The possibility of corrupt and even secretive influence bought by funding candidates for the bench raises serious concern. While it is possible that the use of judicial elections may be a workable system for selecting judges, the threat of turning judges into politicians remains evident. Also see our section on American democracy and our Supreme Court articles.
Reform Of Elections For Swiss Top Judges Thrown Out
A plan to elect supreme court judges by lot rather than by the Swiss parliament was rejected by voters in all 26 Cantons of the country.
Study Estimating Judicial Ideology Finds Rise in Polarization
Reviewing the substantial literature on estimating judicial ideology, from the US Supreme Court to the lowest state court.
SolarWinds Hack May be Big Setback to Judicial Transparency
The vulnerability in SolarWinds resulted in an “apparent compromise” of “highly sensitive non-public documents,” such as sealed filings.
Why Official Records Must be Made Public for Elected Prosecutors
America’s locally elected prosecutors have authority to reinforce mass incarceration and racial disparities incriminal legal system.
Dark Money Dominating State Supreme Court Races
Outside groups continue to pour money into state supreme court campaigns, television advertising spending so far totaling $5 million this election season.
Dark Money Groups to Spend Millions in State Supreme Court Races
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law will track, analyze, and publish data on television spending in these campaigns, leading up to the November 6 elections.
Money Starting to Dominate State Supreme Court Elections
Causing the greatest distress is the growing prevalence of so-called “dark money” in state judicial campaigns
North Carolina Elections Are Ground Zero in Broken System
North Carolina’s civil-rights and good-government groups are preparing for a special session
Debate over how to elect NC judges gets uglier
Democratic senators walked out of a legislative study committee meeting Wednesday on judicial selection