judgesonmerit.org

In an editorial inspired by today’s United States Supreme Court argument in Caperton v. Massey, the Harrisburg Patriot-News calls for changing the way we select judges in Pennsylvania:

Given that real life judicial elections can, in fact, be just as intriguing as fiction, should we continue to allow the possibility that money can influence not only whom we elect, but potentially the decisions made by judges once they are on the bench?

Citing recent polls showing very high levels of concern about the influence of campaign contributions on judicial decision-making, the editorial argues that it’s time to get money out of the judicial selection process.  Recusal rules are a good start, but more significant reform is needed:

We hope the U.S. Supreme Court will agree that recusals are necessary when judges are faced with issues that impact their financial backers.

But we also hope there will be action in the state General Assembly this session to push legislation that changes our system from electing appellate judges to selecting them based on merit. That way we can get money, once and for all, erased from the appellate court equation.

Well put, and a very good agenda for court reform in Pennsylvania.

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