judgesonmerit.org

The Memphis Flyer reports that Tennessee Chief Justice Janice Holder was very clear in her support for Merit Selection during her recent address to the Kiwanis Club.  Explaining why it is imperative that the Tennesse Merit Selection be renewed and continued, Chief Justice Holder offered an eye-opening explanation of the role of judges as referees:

Justice Holder began her luncheon remarks with a tongue-in-cheek announcement. “I’m gong [sic] to talk about basketball,” she said, presenting a facetious proposal to elect officials taking part in NCAA championship tournaments, allowing them to raise money, use attack ads against election opponents, “and show bits and pieces of video of some of these games where there were bad calls.”

After asking rhetorically, “Don’t you think that’s a more democratic way to go about it?”, she answered her own question this way: “It is ridiculous, isn’t it? You wouldn’t want your [basketball] officials to be elected.” Then came her clincher: “Judges are like those officials. You relay on them to call the game fairly.”

Chief Justice Holder is right — the best way to get the most qualifed, fair and impartial judges is Merit Selection.