judgesonmerit.org

A recent report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan National Institute for Money in State Politics shows that money and incumbency were the two largest factors in determining the results of judicial elections.  Candidates running in partisan elections, where contenders are backed by political parties, averaged as much as triple the money raised by those running in non-partisan or retention elections

The study reinforces what has long been known to critics of Pennsylvania’s own system of electing judges in partisan contests.  Namely, that money plays an overly-determinative role in judicial elections.  Oftentimes this money comes in the form of campaign donations from individuals who may subsequently appear before the elected judge.

Incidentally, the Institute study comes on the heels of a report by PMC  on the record amounts spent in the most recent Supreme Court race. The election cost at least $4.5 million and possibly more than twice that when all of the political party spending is accounted for.

Fundraising prowess weighs heavily on a candidate’ s ability to win an election, and may add some value to the consideration of a political candidate, but should bear little on one’s capacity to be a fair and effective judge.   A switch to Merit Selection would eliminate the influence of money on judicial selection and shift the focus back to finding the most qualified individuals for the job.

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