judgesonmerit.org

Next year, voters in Nevada will be presented with a ballot initiative on judicial selection.  According to the Las Vegas Sun The proposal, which would replace judicial elections with a Merit Selection system, “appears to be on its way to becoming a hot-button issue on the campaign trail.”

Although some observers worry that other ballot races, including the U.S. Senate race and gubernatorial election, will make it difficult to garner attention for the judicial selection question, others believe the issue will get the attention it deserves.  Dan Hart, a political consultant who supports passage of the initiative argues:

“There will be some lively debate on the issue and that’s what it deserves,” he says. “I think we’ll see a far more frank and honest discussion of this, rather than just a 30-second TV spot that gives you just talking points.

“You’ll see the print media write about it. There will be radio ads. And you’ll see the issue included in the debates with the candidates.”

We hope the people of Nevada get to fully explore this issue, and we also hope that Pennsylvanians will soon have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about whether we should change the way we select appellate court judges.  It’s a serious issue worthy of serious discussion.

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