Comments on Advance Indiana™: Indianapolis Bar Association Survey Results For Judicial Candidates

The slating fee is used, in part, to pay for the m...

2014-01-22T22:41:12.156-05:00

The slating fee is used, in part, to pay for the mailers that are sent out to the voters in the primary to inform them about all the slated candidates. The state parties similarly charge the statewide candidates nominated at the state convention a fee for being nominated.

The slating fees are booked as a campaign expenditure by the candidate's campaign committee. The candidates raise money from campaign contributors to pay the fee, or they simply loan the money to their campaign out of their own pocket if they're unable to raise enough money in contributions from others.

Perhaps the only time a sitting judge might recuse him or herself from a matter is if the attorney/contributor also chaired or served in some other official role as a member of his or her campaign committee. I don't believe they recuse themselves based on a campaign contribution alone from an attorney or law firm representing one of the parties.

Gary, If I read your response correctly, a slating...

2014-01-22T21:26:29.464-05:00

Gary, If I read your response correctly, a slating fee is merely a campaign contribution to a party.

Under the Indiana Code or federal election laws, can parties charge candidates to participate in primaries or conventions?

Are slating fees reported as contributions, and do $26,000 slating fees violate any personal contribution limits?

Further, is payment of a slating fee grounds for recusal in any case in which counsel is or works for a known donor of the party?

That is, B&T is a well known donor to the Marion County Republican Party and exerts considerable influence on the party. Judge X is a Republican and relies upon the party for continued slating, thus continued employment as a judge. A vs. B is assigned to Judge X. B&T represents B. How is the slating requirement not grounds for mandatory recusal?

"Source the slating fee" Good question....

2014-01-22T18:41:36.347-05:00

"Source the slating fee"

Good question. The candidates are required to file their campaign finance disclosure statements, itemizing receipts and disbursements from their campaign committees. Not surprisingly, most of their contributors are attorneys. Some judicial candidates loan the money from their personal resources to their campaign committee to pay the slating fee.

Only someone with a death wish would complete that...

2014-01-22T18:13:03.458-05:00

Only someone with a death wish would complete that survey.

Are the parties under a requirement to source the slating fee?