Check your state bar association website for judge performance reviews
Checking mine led me to vote 'no retention' on a couple of judges who may have escaped attention otherwise. With them it wasn't a matter of decisions or appointment, but incompetence, though all three factors often coincide.
Haven't checked, but other state bar associations probably do performance reviews as well. If they don't offer a review, it might be worth a post-election question as to "why not?".
These were the rating categories:
-Knowledge and application of the law
-Perception of factual issues
-Attentiveness to evidence and arguments
-Temperament and demeanor
-Clarity and quality of written opinions
-Promptness of rulings and decisions
And a few other categories:
-Avoids undue personal observations or criticisms of litigants, judges
and lawyers from bench or in written opinions.
-Decides cases on basis of applicable law and fact, not affected by
outside influence.
-Is courteous and patient with litigants, lawyers and court personnel.
-Treats people equally regardless of race, gender, age, national origin,
religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or disability.
Judges far below the norm really stand out. Average ratings were pretty high.
I just wish I'd thought of it decades ago -it would have saved time and uncertainty.
= new reply since forum marked as read
out some minimum info on Ballotpedia, etc., but this would have been much better.
Great info/resource!
