Entertainment, TV, Celebrity, Culture

Follow @2Paragraphs
  • Daily Edition
    • Bernie SandersBernie Sanders Says This “Greedy” Enemy Unites Even Divided Americans
    • Barack_ObamaBarack Obama Links To Tyre Nichols $1 Million Fund, Speaks Out On Tragedy
    • Joe_BidenJoe Biden Viral Video: “Blank Stare” or Disgust and Surprise?
  • Business
    • Ph.D. student Omar Samara of UC Davis with an agrivoltaic farmAgrivoltaic Farming Trend Surges, Success Stories Around The Globe
    • Dwayne_Johnson by Eva Rinaldi [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsDwayne Johnson Knocks On His Wooden Head After $100 Million Annual Sales
    • Bill_GatesBill Gates Defends Huge Farm Purchases, “There Isn’t Some Grand Scheme”
  • Culture
    • Sarah SilvermanSarah Silverman Caught Canoodling With Boyfriend on Plane
    • Megan FoxMegan Fox Is Filming Sci-Fi Thriller With Gorgeous Italian Singer, ‘Hard For Me’
    • Lea MicheleLea Michele Flaunts Tiny Waist in Crop Top Dress at Best Friend’s New Movie
  • Sports
    • Deron WilliamsNBA Taps Deron Williams For All-Star Gig, “One Of The Nastiest” — Here’s Why
    • Dwyane_WadeDwyane Wade Plays Denzel Movie Star In New Versace Look, “Doesn’t Get Colder’
    • Russell_WestbrookRussell Westbrook Can’t Stop Smiling, He Loves This Reporter’s Question So Much
  • Food
    • Jennifer GarnerJennifer Garner Reveals Her Favorite ‘Dry January’ Treat at Home
    • Dark ChocolateAre Dark Chocolate Fears Overblown? Cadmium, California, and “Ouch, Ouch” Disease
    • Wendy's restaurantWendy’s New Riddle Stumps Social Media — “Chili in Philly?”
  • Interviews
    • Cranberries_in_a_bucketDo Cranberries Really Help UTI? A Doctor Answers With New Evidence
    • Lauren Lovett The Speech Ring InventorVideo: The Speech Ring Inventor on Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
    • Surge first out gay superhero in the moviesFirst Out Gay Movie Superhero Surge Speaks on Humor, Responsibility
  • Cool Stuff
    • Bergdorf Goodman 5th Avenue store in NYCChristian Louboutin Reveals 3.5″ Spring Mules With ‘Vibrant Red’ Nail Polish
    • Cardi_BCardi B Says She Hit Jackpot With $30,000 Chanel Slot Machine Bag
    • Patton Oswalt, photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPatton Oswalt Shares Genius Movie Solution for Home Viewing, “Wow”
  • People
    • Bradley_Cooper,Bradley Cooper’s Net Worth Wealth Soars, $100 Million Plus
    • Barbara CorcoranWho Is Barbara Corcoran’s FBI Agent, Football Star Husband?
    • Israel Del ToroWatch ESPYS Pat Tillman Recipient MSgt. Del Toro Talk About Resilience
  • Contact

Should Judges Be Elected?

by Michael J. Racette in Law | August 31, 2012

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

Calls for judicial term limits or for election of judges are heard from both liberals and conservatives.  Common triggers include criminal sentencing that is perceived to be too lenient and the overturning of popular laws.  Absent reason to impeach, federal judges are essentially appointed for life or until they voluntarily resign or retire.  Some states follow a similar approach, or impose a mandatory retirement age that accomplishes a similar result.  In other states, however, judges are elected—just like those running for political office.  Is this a good idea?  A basic justification for lifetime appointments is that it frees a judge to render decisions impartially—even if the result might prove to be unpopular (at least at the time) with the majority of the voting population–without fear of consciously or unconsciously trying to pander to the majority in order to improve the judge’s chances of being re-elected.  Election proponents–and opponents, for that matter–might claim that elections would tend to ensure that judges are accountable to the mood of the citizens.

In states where judges are appointed by the Governor, the state’s citizens basically cede immediate control of judicial appointments to a democratically elected official, but they retain long-term influence over the judiciary because if a Governor appoints judges who prove to be unpopular with enough citizens, the citizens are able to elect an opponent who promises to employ different criteria for his or her judicial appointments.  In this sense then, over time, the judicial system is accountable to the will of the citizens–though a gubernatorial candidate’s judicial preferences may not, given the range of issues at stake, get prioritized by voters on election day.  Still, considering the concern about undue influence of special interests in state and federal legislative and executive elections, it is hard to see how extending that to the judiciary would improve our government.  // Michael Racette

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

Abolish the Electoral College? Framers Say No, States Say?

Load More

  • Recent
  • Trending
  • Popular
  • Waiters Get Back $500K Tips From Greedy NYC Restaurant
  • Supreme Court Saves SCOTUScare, Scalia Regrets
  • Justice Clarence Thomas Sides With Liberals On Free Speech
  • Uber Just Unwillingly Hired All Its California Drivers
  • Supreme Court Lets Eminem Style Off The Hook
2paragraphs on APPLE NEWS | 2paragraphs Amazon Shop | SEE MORE 2paragraphs ARTICLES
  • About 2paragraphs
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Dedication
  • Map
  • Fresh
  • Law
  • How-To
  • Personal
  • Books

© 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC

  • Buffer
  • Diggit
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Flattr
  • Google+
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Stumble
  • tumblr
  • Twitter
  • VK
  • WhatsApp
  • Yummly
  • Xing