judgesonmerit.org

In a report about the current judicial elections in Alabama, The Press-Register notes:

With millions of dollars coursing into the campaign coffers of candidates for Alabama’s appellate courts, an age-old question has resurfaced: What should judges do to remove doubt about their impartiality?

It’s not just reform groups and the public who are concerned about the influence of money in judicial elections. The report explains that some judicial candidates and bar association leaders also believe that steps should be taken to eliminate the perception — and perhaps the reality — that campaign money can affect judicial decision-making.

Some of these folks are talking about whether recusal should be mandated in cases involving campaign donors.  This isn’t a new issue and it’s not unique to Alabama — we’re still waiting to hear whether the United States Supreme Court will take up the West Virginia case of Caperton v. Massey which poses similar questions.

This is just another example demonstrating why money and selecting appellate judges shouldn’t mix.

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