judgesonmerit.org

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News report that ballot positions have been selected for upcoming Philadelphia elections. The races affected by the drawing of positions include city council, city commission, register of wills, sheriff, Traffic Court judge, Municipal Court judge, and Common Pleas Court judge. Ballot positions were chosen by picking numbered bingo balls out of a coffee can, and “the drawing had the feel of a circus joined to a lottery.” Although there is clearly more involved in running a campaign than ballot position, it is telling that one candidate referred to the day as “one of the most important days in the election.” Another candidate, after receiving first position on the ballot, “literally danced out of the courtroom, saying in a sing-song voice ‘Hallelujah, thank you Jesus. Do the right thing and vote for Bloom in the spring.’”

In judicial elections ballot positioning is even more important because the candidates are often less well known and voters have less information to base their choice on. In addition, judicial races are lower on the ballot.

Citizens’ Voice announces that the Department of State in Harrisburg held a lottery to determine ballot positions for candidates running for Luzerne County judge. Political science professor Thomas Baldino said that ballot position is important, with candidates on the top preferred to those on the bottom. He went on to explain that in races with numerous candidates, positioning becomes more important due to “voter fatigue.” Although Pennsylvania’s proposed merit selection process only affects the appellate courts, we believe that increased public education and awareness are crucial in these judicial elections.

The position of judge is too important to be decided in part by the drawing of a numbered bingo ball.

Yesterday’s call by Governor Rendell for the legislature to pass the pending Merit Selection bills has got Pennsylvania talking.  An editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News shares the Governor’s sense of urgency to pass the legislation and argues: “Imagine if judges didn’t have to rely on the kindness of ward leaders, or the luck of ballot position.”

In addition, the Philadelphia Inquirer has a full report on the news conference and quotes the Governor’s exclamation that there is “no excuse for not moving the legislation this year and putting the question on the ballot by late 2011.” The Inquirer also quoted PMC Executive Director Lynn Marks who explained that Merit Selection is designed to get the most qualified, fair and independent people on the appellate courts.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that the Governor is seeking to give a jumpstart to the Merit Selection legislation.  The article quotes local State Senator Jim Ferlo on the need for reform: “The impact of the electoral system on the impartiality of judges puts the fairness of our courts in question, and now requires judicial candidates … to raise millions of dollars to run their campaigns.”

Additional coverage of the Governor’s press conference and the call for action can be found at WHYY 91 FM, the Citizens’ Voice, the Times Leader, the Patriot-News, and Gavel Grab.