Voting for Judges?
 

Some states have an appointed system like the federal judicial systems. Others, such as mine, have an election process.

Should judges be elected, thus having to campaign, etc. or should they be appointed? There's pluses and minuses to both sides.

If you are in a state that elects them, please try to find out some information about the different candidates before voting. I never paid attention before, but last night I attended a debate between the two candidates for PA supreme court and it really made me realize some things.

Judges affect you more on a daily basis that will ever realized. Their decisions shape and interpret the law, and they have immediate impact. Whereas it takes a senator or congress person a very long time to ever get a bill passed, judges make decisions every day that affect your lives.

All the hot button issues are ultimately decided by judges: abortion rights, same sex marriages, etc. etc.

So I guess this just a general reminder to be an informed voter, and also wonder the opinions as to whether judges should be elected or appointed?

Texas is another state that elects its judges. Before she became a TV personality, Catherine Crier was an elected district court judge in Texas.

I'm not sure if electing judges is good or bad. I think it stupid that they can be elected without a law degree. The same thing is true with coroners. What happens if a plumber gets elected coroner or judge?
One M.E. in my area didn't have a mecical degree. He used to be a funeral director.

I'm all for electing Judges. In my home county they do that. I think its the only way to go. The only downside to it all is that politics and friends in the right places can often determine who wins the seat. However, thats not to say the people can't change things. Personally, I'd hate to to see a democratic govenor for 2 terms appoint a bunch of Judges who don't represent me or my views.

I think you can make a good case for either side of this issue.

If you elect them, it's a popularity contest, because the vast majority of voters won't bother to determine the real issues.

If you allow them to be appointed, you're at the mercy of the person who appoints them.

I just know that there's no way in hell I'll vote for the candidate who has left messages on my phone every day for the past two weeks!!!

Re: Voting for Judges?
 

Dani, I actually saw that debate. PCN got a live feed from Pittsburgh. After that debate, I'm voting for Judge Orie Melvin for the Supreme Court. On the Superior Court, I'm still not sure yet.

My uncle is an elected judge. He doesn't mind the process. I think that fact that he has never lost an election could be the reason. :)

He should have ran for coroner. He has the creditials.

I think that judges should be elected but also, no everyone should be allowed to vote. YOu should have to pass some kind of civics class or something to vote.

Re: Re: Voting for Judges?
 

Is this the women with six kids? My dad and I had to laugh at the commercials they have for her. When did she get the time to raise six kids and become a judge at the same time:) She seems like a good candidate though, so I'll probably vote for her.

I have openly advocated the bringing back of Poll Tests. NOT as a form of segregation, but to keep the stupid people from voting. And you'd have to make it real simple, Question1). How many US Senators does your state have. Question2) Name on of them.

Thats it. If you cant get that, you go home, study and can answer again correctly, then you get to vote. ;)

Re: Re: Re: Voting for Judges?
 

Kelly, Orie Melvin is the one with six kids. I also saw that ad, and I'll admit it was funny. But, since Baer didn't put one up, it kinda of narrowed it down for me. I think that the ad was trying to state that since she was a mother (and make tough decisions), she would make a great judge. And I'll admit I did vote for Orie Melvin.

That wouldn't be fair to the Democrats. Most of them wouldn't be eligible to vote.

:rolleyes: You really didn't need to take a shot at Democrats.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Voting for Judges?
 

I voted for her too, but I just read on pennlive.com that she lost to Baer 55% to 45%. Also for anyone interested, John Street was reelected as Philadelphia mayor. Guess the FBI bug didn't bother anybody there.

unofficial results are that Baer won over Orie. Sorry to you republicans, but i'm happy. After meeting her last week at the debate and hearing what she had to say, i'm glad. She was a b!tch, just a nasty person. As a law student, I actually understand now, more than ever, what judges do. She refused to straight up answer many of the questions, and I refuse to vote for someone, regardless of party lines, that won't tell me what her position is on things.

True, a judge must be partial. But there's not a human being on earth that is entirely impartial, and I have a right to know what their beliefs and opinions are. The Supreme Court said several years ago that I have that right, and she covered up everything that she said.

I can't complain about Onorato or whatever...... this area needs changes. I'll be voting against Mayor Murphy next year (and i'm a registered Democrat), stuff needs to be done.

Okay, that's it for my "i just woke up and saw the election results" commentary.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Voting for Judges?
 

That ad rubbed me the wrong way, and I couldn't put my finger on it until talking to my mom last night (mom is a center- leaning Republican). While i'm sure it was meant to be funny, etc. etc. she was too busy reading her newspaper to spend time with her kids. She spent like 10 seconds talking to the kids and the rest of the time reading her newspaper.

TV ads will never sway me, unless they're extremelly negative towards the other side (in which case they'll make me look more favorably to the other side!). Especially after taking Political Communications during undergrad as well as other poli sci and communications class that dealt with it, they're all manufactured BS. I used to pay attention to them, but now that i'm older and understand things better, I vote based on the candidates positions on issues than a tv ad.

I didn't vote for Melvin - too much baggage. But Onorato - I couldn't vote for him if he had ran unopposed. I didn't care for Roddy's negative campaign (Why did he need one? The County's in good financial shape, it's the City that's going down the chute!), but I'm not the only person who thinks that Onorato is part of the plan to incorporate all of Allegheny County into the City of Pittsburgh. And why should the fiscally responsible suburbs bail out the City? I don't work there, I rarely (if ever) use any of the City's services, so I am not thrilled by the possibility of bailing out the City.