Sandra Day O'Connor's New Judgment: Judicial Campaign Reform Is Necessary

[babylonsister]

Sandra Day O'Connor's New Judgment: Judicial Campaign Reform Is Necessary
Ryan J. Reilly | August 17, 2010, 2:43PM


Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has taken up the cause of reforming state judicial campaign and election systems, writing that the "crisis of confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary is real and growing." If left unaddressed, said O'Connor, "the perception that justice is for sale will undermine the rule of law that courts are supposed to uphold."

O'Connor's comments came in her introduction of a new report which concludes that partisan and special interest groups have grown far more organized in their efforts to use judicial elections to tilt the scales of justice. Campaign fundraising for judicial elections more than doubled from $83.3 million in 1990-1999 to $206.9 million in 2000-2009, according to the report.

"We all expect judges to be accountable to the law rather than political supporters or special interests," writes O'Connor. "But elected judges in many states are compelled to solicit money for their election campaigns, sometimes from lawyers and parties appearing before them. Whether or not those contributions actually tilt the scales of justice, three out of four Americans believe that campaign contributions affect courtroom decisions."

The new norm in judicial campaigns is "tens of millions of dollars raised by candidates from parties who may appear before them, millions more poured in by interest groups, nasty and misleading ads, and pressure on judges to signal courtroom rulings on the campaign trail" according to the report, titled "The New Politics of Judicial Elections, 2000-2009: A Decade of Change."

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/sandra_days_new_quest_state_judicial_reform.php?ref=fpi

[closeupready]

1. I like how she makes excuses in saying candidates are "compelled

to solicit money for their election campaigns."

After what she did on Bush v. Gore, there really is nothing she has to say that interests me.

[babylonsister]

3. That's an excuse? Seems like a reality, at least in my world. nt

[T Wolf]

2. I guess things look different from down here on earth - not like from the lofty bench.

Maybe she has had occasion to talk to real people who have lived the fact that justice does not exist in this country anymore, if it ever did.

The law has always been sold to those with money.

[Kolesar]

4. In Ohio, the courts do whatever the republican lobby groups want them to do

Pro-business all the way

[NoGOPZone]

5. Yes, a 'crisis of confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary"

that's what happens when the SCOTUS steals elections, Sandra.

[aquart]

6. Right now, appointed justices in NJ are afraid to make a decision

Because the governor can simply replace them. Is this what she's hoping for?

I despise that woman to the marrow of my bones.