In a Guest Commentary piece in the Detroit Free Press, former Supreme Court Justice O’Connor argued against processes in which state judges participate in competitive elections in order to secure spots on the state bench. In her own words:
“Proponents of judicial elections argue that this is the democratic way, and that the rough and tumble is just the price of democracy. I strongly disagree. The judiciary is different, as evidenced by our U.S. Constitution, which wisely requires appointment, not election, of federal judges. . . . Allowing cash in our courtrooms has the potential to erode the public’s confidence in the impartiality and trustworthiness of the courts.”
Instead, O’Connor would prefer a merit-based system, similar to what is currently in place in her home state of Arizona. Read the full post HERE.
