tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post7181374007099389443..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-86501359470614250912008-05-17T12:06:00.000-05:002008-05-17T12:06:00.000-05:00I favor "merit" selection for two very significant reasons. First, the "merit" process takes a substantially shorter period of time than does the current process. People who want to run for judge and incumbants begin their campaign as much as two years before the slating convention. Merit selection generally occurs in a 60 day period. Second, candidates for judge are raising substantial sums of money from the very lawyers who practice in front of them. The legal community is tired of being the source of funding for candidates who end up using most of the money to support the county political party. In the "merit" selection process, there is no need for fundraising and the rules would prohibit it.<BR/><BR/>There is no perfect way to select judges. Politics enters the equation regardless of the process used. Merit selection is the ssystem that best reduces the "unseemly" nature of the process.JudgeNothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738417177257644421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-77228392231286981922008-05-16T21:49:00.000-05:002008-05-16T21:49:00.000-05:00Allalehja, Gary, a post I can heartily agree with (rare!). I was one that purposely voted for Kim Brown as a protest againt the ridiculous slating process. Kudos to Bill Lawrence for being forthright in the Senate hearings.IndyPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15940502801797040457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-8924932693855040792008-05-16T21:44:00.000-05:002008-05-16T21:44:00.000-05:00As I stated before Gary, in a judicial selection system, who selects the selectors? Keep in mind the US Senate got tied up a couple years ago over judicial confirmations.Sir Hailstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16301073859882785758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-55012357745772944322008-05-16T21:34:00.000-05:002008-05-16T21:34:00.000-05:00The problem is the "merit" selection process is steeped in politics as well, but it is politics behind closed doors. The fact is, despite the Missouri Plan system used here in Indiana, it's the same regardless of whether it's a Democrat or Republican Govenor. The Govenor tells the Judicial Qualification which judge he wants in the top 3 candidates, that candidate always makes it and is selected by the Governor. I think the federal system is much superior to the Missouri Plan. That is what we should consider.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08899023066910200507noreply@blogger.com