Litigation

More PA Editorials Back Merit Selection

By Peter Hardin

Two Pennsylvania newspapers joined a growing editorial chorus in support of a proposal to move toward merit selection of appellate judges.

An editorial in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice lamented the “rising influence of special interest cash” in judicial elections and allegations of scandal tied to a state Supreme Court campaign last year:

“There is no way to eradicate political considerations from the process and leave merit as the only consideration. But the objective should be to diminish political influence as much as possible in order to boost confidence in and competence of the courts.”

A Chambersburg Public Opinion editorial said that the trouble of passing a constitutional amendment would be worthwhile in order to restore public confidence in the courts. The editorial condemned a “mucky” trend in judicial election politics:

“It seems we won’t have long to wait before every judicial campaign ends up as mucky as those run by the executives and legislators whom judges are supposed to check and balance.”

To learn more about proposed merit selection in Pennsylvania and Gov. Ed Rendell’s recent renewal of support, see Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 23, 2010 (boomark / email).