Pennsylvania Bill Could Change Selection for Non-Incumbent Appellate Judges

[Panich52]

Brennan Center

STATE JUDICIAL SELECTION

Pennsylvania Bill Could Change Selection for Non-Incumbent Appellate Judges

A bill introduced Monday in Pennsylvania would change the way non-incumbent judges are selected, “exchanging elections for a merit appointment process,” writes Jason Laughlin for The Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=83172&qid=5449403 “The bill proposes a 13-member appointing commission that would vet applicants for Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme Courts, and give recommendations to the governor. The governor would make appointments, to be confirmed by the Senate.” Some critics say an appointment system would take voters’ voices out of the judicial selection process. Supporters of the bill favor merit appointment because they are concerned that “significant financial contributions to elections create the impression that money brings influence.” The president of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association said the organization does not have an official position on the bill, but he noted that “appointments can politicize the process just as much as campaign contributions” 

[fizzgig]

1. colorado judges are appointed but up for retention votes

can't remember how often they come up for retention, but my judicial district booted two judges five years ago for their role as prosecutors in this case.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Hettrick_murder_case. on my phone, so i can only link to the mobile site.

[Demit]

2. It's stupid to have voters elect judges.

Voters have no idea who they're voting for because judicial candidates can't make campaign promises, or state their positions on issues--and rightly so!

You can give a voice to citizens by including a people's representative somewhere in the process. Otherwise, it's people involved in the legal profession who have the best idea who would be a good judge. It's not a perfect process, but it beats making candidates run (and have to raise money for) political campaigns.