Posted: 9/16/2010 8:00:55 AM EDT
| Nevada has a question on the ballot that would change our direct election of judges to an appointment process. After the initial appointment by the Governor they serve a term and are then required to go through an election after an impartial committee reviews their performance and rates them for the voters. From what I understand Arizona uses this system. How do you guys like it? |
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It's worthless. None of the judges ever get voted out. The public has no idea who any of the judges are or whether they are good judges or not (most lawyers don't even know enough about all of the judges –– in Maricopa County there are close to 100 Superior Court judges). The majority of voters seem to always vote "yes" to retain them.
Unfortunately, having lawyers run for the office of being a judge isn't any better. The candidates then campaign for the position and get financial contributions from big law firms, private criminal defense attorneys, etc., who will later appear before the judge that they helped get elected. Do you think the judge isn't going to remember who helped them get elected? |
| To be honest that doesn't sound any different than what we have now. Judges are unknown to the people, win via campaigning instead of qualification, kept if incumbent, and funded by attorneys. The argument I heard for your system is that at least when the Governor appoints them he is given a selection of the 3 most qualified applicants that are recommended from an impartial committee so you know they are qualified. |
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i always do my best to research the judges annd give a list to everyone i know who shares my values what judges to vote out and which ones to keep. If everyone else took the time to do something like this we could fix the problem. government of the peoplee doesn't work when the people don't care. |
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Quoted:
Arizona has taken more judges out of office by using this method combined with Recall than any other state. When I was teaching U S and AZ Constitution I looked up the figures and was plesently surprised. I can't think of one Superior Court Judge that has been voted out of office. I know it hasn't happened in Maricopa County in the past 15 years. Basically once appointed by the Governor, it's a lifetime appointment. |
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Quoted: i always do my best to research the judges annd give a list to everyone i know who shares my values what judges to vote out and which ones to keep. If everyone else took the time to do something like this we could fix the problem. government of the peoplee doesn't work when the people don't care. I tried looking them all up myself during their last election, but I found it very difficult to find info on them. There is no website listing all of them and how they rule, for instance. I voted as best I could.  |
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Quoted: yeah it is a pain. the best you can do a lot of the time is find articles written bout their decisions. Quoted: i always do my best to research the judges annd give a list to everyone i know who shares my values what judges to vote out and which ones to keep. If everyone else took the time to do something like this we could fix the problem. government of the peoplee doesn't work when the people don't care. I tried looking them all up myself during their last election, but I found it very difficult to find info on them. There is no website listing all of them and how they rule, for instance. I voted as best I could. |
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Quoted:
Arizona has taken more judges out of office by using this method combined with Recall than any other state. When I was teaching U S and AZ Constitution I looked up the figures and was plesently surprised. Oh wow that is good to hear. I remember hearing about a few instances of scandals surrounding some of a NV judge and they still getting reelected. It really is tough trying to find info on these people and I doubt most of the people put half as much effort as I do into deciding. |