Apr 05 2010
“Merit Selection Would Bolster a Sense of Trust”
An editorial in the Harrisburg Patriot-News calls for getting money out of the judicial election system and moving to Merit Selection for the appellate courts. Quoting the recent American Judicature Society study finding that sixty percent of recent civil cases decided by the state Supreme Court involved a lawyer, law firm or party who had contributed to the election of at least one of the justices, the editorial exclaims, “It leaves a troubling fog over the court.”
The editorial urges that it is time to change the system:
People question whether our court system is fair. Merit selection would bolster a sense of trust.
Noting that the current Governor and five of the six gubernatorial candidates favor Merit Selection, the editorial calls for action:
Supporters need to pressure legislative leaders to allow this issue to come up for a vote in the House and Senate. For too many years the idea has been allowed to linger.
Legislation is pending in both houses that would begin the process of amending the constitution — a process that would culminate in a public referendum on whether to change the way we select appellate court judges. We agree that the time to act is now.
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