Judicial Selection in the States
On Wednesday, Justice James M. Jim Johnson of Olympia became the third Supreme Court justice to say he is running for re-election this year.
The Virginia General Assembly today selected William C. Mims, a former attorney general and Republican legislator from Loudoun County, to fill a vacancy on the...
O'Connor says judges shouldn't be elected
North Carolina :: March 10, 2010 :: Charlotte News & Observer
Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said she'd like to see the state move away from electing judges.
In recent years, proposals have been introduced by legislators, governors, courts, and citizens' groups in nearly every state to limit the role of politics in the selection of state judges.
The extent of these activities underscores the recognition that an independent judiciary is essential to the maintenance of public trust and confidence in the court system.
The American Judicature Society, through funding from the Open Society Institute, has contributed to these efforts by compiling comprehensive information on judicial selection processes in each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Topics covered include methods of selecting, retaining, and removing of judges; successful and unsuccessful reform efforts; the roles of parties, interest groups, and professional organizations in selecting judges; and the diversity of the bench.
- To view state-specific information, select a state from the drop-down menu in the upper right or from the map below.
- To view practices among states, select a topic on the left.