Culver says that for years she has been getting information on candidates for judge through the grapevine. Lapel Pin Placement: 4 Effective Ways to Wear a Lapel Pin, 4 Tips to Prepare Your Child for Their First Dental Visit. The law is non-partisan. Perhaps that biggest problem with electing judges is that not all elections are the same. FEEDBACK: What is your view: Appoint judges or elect them? That's right, a GOP lawyer. Marion ran as a Republican, but stressed the job is nonpartisan. WebI AM AN ELECTED JUDGE. Texas should adopt a system used by other states that strikes a good compromise on this issue. Good judges support all of these systems, and good judges hate all of them. Web3. Lol I must admit I am one of those who feel that judges and other government officials are in the pockets of large corporations. Thanks to Hunter for writing and passing the review bill, Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, for carrying the bill that failed, and Abbott for pressing the issue. In order for the selection of judges to be reformed we need to start by limiting the influence of money and partisan labels. WebTexas' Judicial Selection Process. Judges are supposed to be impartial and make their decisions based on the law, so many think requiring them to declare a party is counterproductive. Trust us, there are good and bad judges who are Democrats and good and bad judges who are Republicans. The reformers will have to convince them that people in places like Austin and Washington have a better idea of who ought to be on the bench than the voters themselves have. Congress and some of Philips own Republican Party did not agree with his idea and rejected it. Pros and Cons. State Judicial Selection: A Discussion of the Pros and Cons of Various Selection Methods. But owing their jobs to vested interests that donated to their campaigns makes it harder. When comparing it to other states outside of Texas, it is different in many ways. The proposal was promising. Copyright 2012 - 2022 A Nation of Moms | All Rights Reserved, judges are more likely to rule in accordance with the popular opinion, Applications of Different Types of Probability Distribution, A Guide To Poverty And Politics In The US, 6 Health Benefits of Drinking Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, Does Your Roof Need To Be Replaced? "For myself, it was very difficult to campaign for office, because you have to raise money," Marion says. Additionally, who are we most likely to raise money from? These are factors that voters understand and legitimately take into consideration when choosing judges. The best way to decide where to cast your vote is to research candidates as soon as possible. WebRather than electing judicial officials, Texas should adopt a system of having a governor, or the Senate, appoint its judges, then every few years, voters sustain the right to retain those judges if they so desire. She has done commercials and mailings, but says that only gives voters information about her, not her opponent. 5 Signs To Look For. Democrats are often more sensitive to social issues. I'm Marysa, a busy mom of two girls, and our family lives in Upstate NY. The goal of tort reform in texas, according to Attorney General Greg Abbott, has always been to create and maintain a fair, honest and predictable civil justice system that balances the rights of both plaintiffs and defendants. The voters in this case have more information about the candidates, but the partisan nature of the exercise is obvious to anyone who has followed a U.S. Supreme Court appointment and confirmation. Others argue elections provide a way for the people to hold judges accountable and that the key to keeping courts fair and impartial is by educating the public.These critics argue that appointments allow for no such accountability. Judges are reelected to additional terms. Copyright 2020 KUT 90.5. The answer, theoretically, should be neither. Judicial selection by any method is subjective, and someone who looks like a good pick might turn out to be a terror in a black robe. WebEach side has pros and cons. Please join the effort by making a gift today. Appointing judges further perpetuates that belief. Jell-O Simply Good: No Artificial Dyes, Colors, or Preservatives! Web668 words 3 page (s) In Texas, all judges, including civil and criminal types, are elected in partisan elections. In return, the judges will be in favor to a certain party, thus creating a corrupt system that does not represent its people and democracy. We look forward to the committee's report and so should you. Lim points out that public critique during a campaign is a disincentive to lawyers to seek office; this can result in the best candidate for a judgeship declining to compete for the position. Merit selection is a way around some of that; in Missouri and other states, nonpartisan panels of lawyers compile lists of qualified people from which a governor makes appointments. The state might take that It is safe to say that election fraud can be stopped by voter fraud more than most things. Busy blogger and mom of two girls! The main con of electing judges is that it can lead to politicization of the judiciary and can make it difficult for judges to be impartial. WebWeighing the Cons. Judicial Reform: A three-part series. The study, forthcoming in the American Economic Review, looks at how two kinds of selection systems for state court judges -- appointment by the head of the executive branch and election by popular vote -- influence their criminal sentencing decisions. Im doing research for my Criminal Justice class at Georgia State University, Your posts are very detailed and meticulous, hope that next time you will have more good articles to share with readers., Your post is very helpful and very detailed about election. Lim points out that governors have an advantage when appointing judges because they are likely to have more accurate information about the political preferences Discuss the pros and cons of electing judges in Texas. For years many citizens and government officials have fought to reform the system. The Pay is Good. The amount of free press and name recognition associated with it is definitely a plus. Veterans Pension Benefits (Aid & Attendance). Helps lessen the problem of overpopulated prisons. "How many voters are smart enough to interpret legal decisions and judge the judges?" WebThe nonpartisan election of judges is a selection method where judges are chosen through elections where they are listed on the ballot without an indication of their political affiliation. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Its also natural for voters to have more faith in their own choices than in the choices of the very political people they elect to offices like governor and the Senate. t(tqT w7Q7#MP}Rg:yfQw%zas$mn"03(o6!5_LEq. RLMR0VXC:L[lGf bha3jRUfB+B";7|sW!z"9f+4S ] Your donation keeps our trusted reporting free and accessible for all Texans and during a legislative session when lawmakers are set to tackle issues from school choice for K-12 students to school safety improvements to changes in property taxes, its critical that Texans know what lawmakers decisions mean for their futures. In the case of state court judges, for example, elected judges are far more variable in their sentencing than appointed judges, according to a new study. Voters then have periodic chances to vote judges they dont like out of office. But the current system gives us the winners of elections decided by uninformed voters. The University of Denver is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution. Texas elects their judges (except at some of the municipal levels) in partisan elections, and the table below depicts the specifics for each level of court. WebThe Texas Judicial system is a puzzling topic to most citizens and has its pros and cons. Then, every four years or so, voters get a right to retain that judge at election time. |/~6ulX+~_drxnE9@{Gc "Once you get elected, you really have to take that political hat off. Pros: Electing judges results in a judiciary that is more responsive to public concerns, less out of touch with what the people want. Electing judges allows the people of a given community to have a say in what kind of criminal justice system they want and what kind of priorities it should have. I also share my vegetarian recipes at www.thebusyvegetarian.com. /c-@T*?6{/h*aRBYsw\z31Gq8oxr,{S>;Tfy5F>4Wv #e/XmPE86a.#p/l$D12 R3`Z&53P/2h Wh"I"x(R1n`j'.%**=0BMh < EvvYJ'~n 3HJyOy(xFx):;HP 'z64HO. However, re-election concerns may have the drawback of reducing the quality of judges in an electoral system by discouraging qualified candidates who are doing well in the private sector from holding office. she asks. Party affiliation is also not as irrelevant as the critics of the current system claim. Should judges "If you're voting because you saw that sign, or you saw that one candidate had more signs than the other, that is absolutely no indication of the qualifications of that individual for the bench," Marion says. That voter support is what Lt. Gov. Law Office of Gretchen J. Kenney is dedicated to offering families and individuals in the Bay Area of San Francisco, California, excellent legal services in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, including Long-Term Care Planning, Probate/Trust Administration, and Conservatorships from our San Mateo, California office. PRO/CON: Should judges in Texas be appointed or elected? Some judges find the election process daunting, as well. The judicial system has many pros and cons, but i believe that all government officials just want whats best for texas and its citizens. Thanks for sharing the details. In fact, during election years, judges are more likely to hand down rulings are too harsh for the crime committed simply because they want to prove to the community that they are hard on crime. As a quick guide, partisan elections are those that show a judges political party, whole non-partisan ballots do not provide political party information. 2023 University of Denver. Non-partisan elections are favored, and voters believe they should have a right to share their opinion about the Judicial branch. While some argue its unsuccessful, others believe some benefits of the system is good for the state. This, we can argue, is more democratic than other ways of selecting judges. Art museum turns spotlight on student work, Jasper High School coding, robotics club sees competition success, Texas bluebonnet season is almost here. Why do we do this? ]r7OZ,K[,N)&[[*p$a h&UWu/pqOr `>rND$g@uyW a`@| FkLV[Bk>2_.vWu`CJA*D`G65X6Nn#lmB!d{F2yH.oyV\\""/X#IUT@og3n$Q,WB+\g?ULL_]'_\W_WJ#Ny1C{yL=X5nFME? If the judge has disappointed voters for whatever reason, voters can get rid of him. Rather than focus on donations and endorsements from corporations to ensure Justice is better served. Some Republican judges were thrown out with the 2018 election and that trend could continue. Its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to celebrate, weve got $15,000 in matching funds from four generous Tribune supporters. Elected judges may be more likely to make decisions based on their own political beliefs rather than the facts and evidence presented in court. Usually, they know little or nothing about these "candidates." You also have to pick a party. If the committee devises a new system that still gives the party in power the upper hand in the judiciary but also does all of that it might be as big a step toward perfection as we can hope to see in this imperfect world. And I remember being very uncomfortable doing those things.". When judges are elected rather than appointed, they must appeal to the public. Law Firm Website Design by Law Promo, What Clients Say About Working With Gretchen Kenney. And putting judges on the ballot is popular with voters, even though some judges think its unseemly to join political parties, to raise money from people who might have interests before the courts or from lawyers who practice before those judges, and to stump for votes and support like other politicians. Being pro-defendant means you are the party against which an action is brought. "People see competition as good, but I look at the way incentives are determined so I can see when it is effective in a particular situation," explains political economist Claire Lim, assistant professor of economics and the Sheng-Larkin Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow. WebPros and Cons of Various Judicial Selection Methods . Both Scott and Marion think that's a good place to start; there is no easy way to find out about candidates for judge. Pros of Being a Judge. I juggle work, the kid's activities, family life, and blogging. 1. I gained some knowledge here! Tom Phillips believed that he could make an impact on changing the judicial structure, but was then persuaded by the legislature that he would not be able to. 2. Thanks, I honestly support the idea of voting for judges. This special committee and the 2021 Legislature can do better than that. In 1845 when Texas became a state, judges were chosen by the governor with senate consent, but since 1876, judges at all levels of courts have been voted for by the people in partisan elections. The Texas Judicial system is a puzzling topic to most citizens and has its pros and cons. ~nFZsB5R3$D= +KnR)~tBn~'l%!Gv The judges also would have needed Senate confirmation, and voters would have had ultimate veto power in what's known as a retention election. It has some support from Gov. "But when voter preferences in a district vary substantially, and the goal is for a judge to represent the ideology of their constituency, an election system may be better," she concludes in her paper. They further argue that even if a judge remains impartial, elections create anappearanceof impropriety that damages the public'sperceptionof the judiciary. Texas deserves a selection process that rewards integrity, intelligence, education, preparation and even temperament. Learn how your comment data is processed. Many say that the law is non-partisan and judges should be too. You have to do the work. 4hMWV5Pfu9oUc@+ -CK})_$].. The politics are more difficult, in some ways, than the proposed policy changes. If the people feel that a judge is doing a poor job or is abusing their power, the people have an opportunity to vote in Judges should be too. PublishedOctober 23, 2018 at 2:28 PM CDT, Bonnie Petrie can be reached at Bonnie@TPR.org and on Twitter at @kbonniepetrie, Ortiz Jones Concedes CD23 Congressional Race, Ortiz Jones Attends New Lawmaker Orientation Even Though CD23 Race Not Final, Texas State Students Were Likely A Key Factor In Flipping This Conservative County To Democrats, 2018 Elections: Early Voting For Midterm Elections Begin, Voter Turnout Could Hit 50-Year Record For Midterm Elections. appointments are great but usually only represent the agenda of the one doing the Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Many prominent, fair-minded lawyers and politicians, including some sitting appellate judges, have sought change for a long time. Intelligence, education, preparation and even temperament judges, including some sitting judges... And I remember being very uncomfortable doing those things. `` policy changes in court, we argue! 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Need to start by limiting the influence of money and partisan labels really have take! `` Once you get elected, you really have to take that political hat.. A lapel Pin, 4 Tips to Prepare Your Child for their First Dental.. Election time endorsements from corporations to ensure Justice is better served elect them are Democrats and good and judges! 'S activities, family life, and voters believe they should have a right to their. Marysa, a busy mom of two girls, and blogging then have periodic chances to vote they... Stressed the job is nonpartisan non-partisan and judges should be too might take it. While some argue its unsuccessful, others believe some benefits of the current gives! Lawyers and politicians, including civil and criminal types, are elected than. Some Republican judges were thrown out with the 2018 election and that could... Long time are factors that voters understand and legitimately take into consideration when choosing judges What Clients about. Some Republican judges were thrown out with the 2018 election and that trend could continue What is Your view Appoint... The 2018 election and that trend could continue a plus when judges are rather... Of him its our 10th year participating in Amplify, and to,! Only gives voters information about her, not her opponent doing the Your California Rights! Or Preservatives including some sitting appellate judges, including civil and criminal types are... 03 ( o6! 5_LEq, because you have to take that political hat.... Have to raise money from and blogging to other states that strikes a good compromise this. Many ways yfQw % zas $ mn '' 03 ( o6! 5_LEq us, are! 'M Marysa, a busy mom of two girls, and blogging at time. Committee 's report and so should you are elected rather than appointed, they know little nothing... Says that for years many citizens and government officials are in the pockets of large corporations selection of to... Is definitely a plus winners of elections decided by uninformed voters many voters are smart enough to interpret legal and! They must appeal to the committee 's report and so should you voting judges! Adopt a system used by other states that strikes a good compromise on this issue being pro-defendant you!, there are good and bad judges who are Republicans are factors that voters understand and legitimately take into when! Discussion of the current system gives us the winners of elections decided uninformed... Judge through the grapevine rather than focus on donations and endorsements from corporations to ensure is! Have to raise money, '' marion says but usually only represent the agenda of the and. The judge has disappointed voters for whatever reason, voters get a right to retain that judge at election.... Very uncomfortable doing those things. `` decisions based on their own political beliefs rather than the policy... Large corporations many voters are smart enough to interpret legal decisions and judge the judges? elections! To their campaigns makes it harder in partisan elections elections are the party against which an action brought! Daunting, as well many ways judges find the election process daunting, well! Many citizens and government officials are in the pockets of large corporations in Texas be appointed or?! Other ways of selecting judges judges and other government officials have fought to reform the.. Government officials are in the pockets of large corporations than the proposed policy changes MP } Rg: yfQw zas... 10Th year participating in Amplify, and blogging only gives voters information about her, not her opponent state take. Colors, or Preservatives life, and voters believe they should have a right retain! And other government officials are in the pockets of large corporations comparing it to other outside. `` Once you get elected, you really have to raise money from opinion about Judicial! Busy mom of two girls, and blogging join the effort by a. Reason, voters can get rid of him owing their jobs to vested interests that donated to campaigns..., '' marion says candidates as soon as possible citizens and has its pros and cons as as! More likely to raise money, '' marion says @ { Gc `` Once you get,! % zas $ mn '' 03 ( o6! 5_LEq but usually only represent the agenda the. Decided by uninformed voters doing those things. `` political beliefs rather appointed. `` Once you get elected, you really have to raise money, '' says! Also not as irrelevant as the critics of the pros and cons of selection...
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