Jan 21 2009
Washington State Voters Think Merit Selection Sounds Good
Washington State University is reporting that its recent survey on judicial selection (conducted with the American Judicature Society) reveals that voters are dissatisified with the current electoral system and favor implementing a Merit Selection system. The two elements that were most appealing about Merit Selection were the use of a nominating commission and the inclusion of regular retention elections.
Survey respondents valued the idea of a nonpartisan nominating commission composed of lawyers and nonlawyers. They believed the commission would focus judicial selection on qualifications and also would limit the Governor’s discretion in making judicial appointments.
Central to the survey’s findings was the respondents’ beliefs that a Merit Selection system with regular retention elections would actually provide more opportunity for voter input in judicial selection. Voters felt that having every judge stand for retention at regular intervals would increase accountability and give voters an important chance to weigh in on a judge’s performance.
The researchers observe that:
It is clear that in a head-to-head choice, after having considered in some detail the major characteristics of both the current nonpartisan election system and the hypothetical commission-based system, the registered voters surveyed in Washington during the 2008 election season clearly prefer the commission system.
We hope voters in Washington will have an opportunity to decide whether to implement a new way to choose their judges.
Tags: American Judicature Society, judicial elections, Merit Selection, nominating commission, other states, retention, Washington, Washington State University
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