“New Report Finds $39.7 Million Spent on Campaigns for State Supreme Court Judgeships in 2017-2018, $10.8 Million of it by Special Interest Groups”
Brennan Center release.
Category Archives: judicial elections
“LDF Applauds Federal Court Remedy Ensuring Voting Rights in Louisiana”
“Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Files Voting Rights Lawsuit Against Louisiana Over Discriminatory Maps for State Supreme Court”
“New Report Shows Extreme Lack of Diversity Among State Supreme Court Justices”
Release:
State supreme courts, which sit at the top of state judiciaries, don’t have gender parity and don’t reflect the racial or ethnic composition of the communities they serve, according to a new report from the Brennan Center for… Continue reading
Third Circuit Strikes Down Delaware Rule Requiring Judicial Candidates to Be Member of Republican or Democratic Parties
Opinion in Adams v. Delaware:
James R. Adams is a resident and member of the State Bar of Delaware. For some time, he has expressed a desire to be considered for a judicial position in that state. Following the announcement… Continue reading
A Recount Could Be Coming in Closely Watched Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
At the time I write this post, the closely watched race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court is a nailbiter:
The loser can request a recount if the race is within 1 percent, and the state pays if it is… Continue reading
With Democrats Surprisingly Winning Some Judicial Elections in Texas, There’s Talk of Move to Nonpartisan Elections
Howard has the details.
“New opinion — Third Circuit strikes down Delaware’s requirement that state judges be Democrats or Republicans”
CA3 Blog:
The Delaware Constitution sets out a unique method for selecting state-court judges: the Governor appoints them (based on recommendations from nominating commissions, and without legislative involvement) subject to a requirement that the judges of each court contain… Continue reading
“Judicial Elections, Public Opinion, and Decisions on Lower‐Salience Issues”
Brandice Canes-Wrone, Tom Clark and Amy Semet have written this article for the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies. Here is the abstract:
Scholarship finds that in states with judicial elections, public opinion affects judges’ decisions on hot‐button campaign issues such… Continue reading
“Well-financed foes give Michigan Supreme Court justices a fight”
Detroit News:
The campaign was roiled in early August when the state’s high court ruled 4-3 to let Proposal 2 on the Nov. 6 ballot, despite arguments from Republican officials and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce that it would change… Continue reading
“Brennan Center Urges States to Abolish Elections for State Supreme Court Justices”
Release:
The U.S. Supreme Court isn’t the only institution roiled by a highly politicized judicial selection process. In a new report, the Brennan Center calls for reform to state supreme courts, where high-cost elections have become the norm.… Continue reading
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Claims She Faced “Bullying” Over Her Vote to Keep Redistricting Measure on Ballot
Unusual story in the Detroit News:
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement said she faced “bullying and intimidation” while deliberating a case that paved the way for a redistricting proposal to go on the November ballot.
Clement, a Gov. Rick… Continue reading
“Behind $250 million State Farm settlement, a wild tale of dark money in judicial elections”
Reuters:
The biggest difference between a John Grisham novel and the allegations in a racketeering class action State Farm settled Tuesday for $250 million is that Grisham would have had the insurance company buy off a state Supreme Court candidate… Continue reading
Michigan: “Clement criticized for redistricting decision, still earns Supreme Court nomination”
M Live:
Supreme Court Justices Beth Clement and Kurtis Wilder were formally nominated by the Michigan Republican Party to run for reelection, despite organized opposition to Clement’s record on the state’s highest court.
Both Wilder and Clement were appointed by… Continue reading