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In most of the world judges are appointed via various means but in the United States, judges are elected in 33 out of 50 states and a movement is underway to finally abolish the practice of electing judges.
Judges here in New York are elected and (not surprisingly) the system is rife with corruption, afterall money talks. I have personally heard many horror stories of judges who refused to excuse themselves from cases, and/or who made rulings based on campaign donations. I would like to see elected judges abolished in all 50 states, Washington DC, and the 5 US territories.
Judges here in New York are elected and (not surprisingly) the system is rife with corruption, afterall money talks. I have personally heard many horror stories of judges who refused to excuse themselves from cases, and/or who made rulings based on campaign donations. I would like to see elected judges abolished in all 50 states, Washington DC, and the 5 US territories.
I too voted for non-partisian panel.
Your paragraph applies here: simply substitute "Texas" for "New York".
I think that it depends. Every state has a different system, and I don't think a one-size fits all approach works. For instance, if a judge's role in county government is more political than judicial, then it makes sense for that judge to be elected. If a judge is making decisions about road improvements and budget expenditures, I think it's appropriate for that judge to be elected and answerable to the local citizenry. If a judge's role is more judicial than political, I think that in those cases that judge should be appointed, because justice in the hands of the people isn't always justice, sometimes it's judgment without the weight of the law behind it. A judge making judicial decisions should not be swayed by public opinion, nor have to consider an electoral future that might corrupt his legal judgment.
In most of the world judges are appointed via various means but in the United States, judges are elected in 33 out of 50 states and a movement is underway to finally abolish the practice of electing judges.
I think that it's very sad that judges can risk their re-elections based on court decisions that are not popular with the public. Just look at what happened in Iowa when the Supreme Court justices made the decision that banning gay marriages was unconstitutional. The hate mobs came out in full force to evict them from office. Justice should not be decided by mob rule.
I think that it's very sad that judges can risk their re-elections based on court decisions that are not popular with the public. Just look at what happened in Iowa when the Supreme Court justices made the decision that banning gay marriages was unconstitutional. The hate mobs came out in full force to evict them from office. Justice should not be decided by mob rule.
Agreed entirely, elected judges translates to a tyranny of the majority. That's another of the many reasons why I would like to see judicial elections ended.
I did some research on this and I was completely shocked to discover that there are many states where judges are not required to have a law degree!
If we require an elected sheriff to be POST certified then we sure as heck should required all judges, elected or appointed, to have a law degree.
You have got to be kidding, i would only hope that each State made sure the judges were required to have a law degree!
Let me guess which States does allow judges to not have to have a law degree, i would like to know. Calif one of them.
I would at least hope the judges elected, or by appointment, would have to have a law degree.
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