Comments on Advance Indiana™: Is Merit Selection Of Judges In The Offing?

Here's a thought: Isn't the current Marion County...

2009-01-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a thought: Isn't the current Marion County judicial selection process using the same process "pay to play" that Rod Blagojevich was trying to use to appoint a senator from Illinois?

Currently, candidates pay their party a "fee" ("pay-to-play bribe" may be substituted) based on the judicial salary and the political party puts them on the ballot...once on the ballot they automatically get a seat on the bench, with voters only saying that one candidate of one party does not get a judge seat so that one party has a single judge seat more than the other....no merit involved, just the "Illinois political appointment system!"

2009-01-09T00:35:00.000-05:00

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Lake County has merit selection as well.

2009-01-08T23:44:00.000-05:00

Lake County has merit selection as well.

I agree wholeheartedly with Gary on this one. The...

2009-01-08T22:33:00.000-05:00

I agree wholeheartedly with Gary on this one. The apprearance of financial contributions, often from lawyers, playing a large part in the selection process is disturbing and appears to be a corruption of impartiality and judicial independence. Allen, St. Joseph's, and I believe Vanderburgh counties use merit selection. I am not aware of the mechanics of these systems, nor does Stoner say who would choose the judge in the first instance, though I imagine some type of nominating commission. The makeup of that commission would obviously be critical.

So, Advance, is this going to be like the federal ...

2009-01-08T20:47:00.000-05:00

So, Advance, is this going to be like the federal system where the ultraliberal ABA screens judges ?

What's so wrong about the current system, and what are the negatives about your proposed system ?

Abdul can think of nothing but consolidating townships, which will save scant money compared to other things we could be doing (not building stadiums), so let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Gary,I too have seen the Marion County slating pro...

2009-01-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

Gary,

I too have seen the Marion County slating process "work," which is exactly why the system needs to be changed. Right now the party leaders can almost always dictate the results by appointing committeemen to vote the "right" way at slating.

I'm not sure though I would want to go to the Missouri Plan system for selection of Indiana's Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Judges. That's just politics behind closed doors. Supposedly the Commission picks the top 3 candidates strictly on merit. But almost always the list of 3 includes the person the Governor wants and/or minorities to achieve racial balance.

I'd almost rather see a version of the federal system where the Prez appoints and the Senate confirms. I don't think the lifetime appointment for federal judges has worked well though. I wouldn't want to repeat that at the state level.