Charlemagne: Circumventing Elections

Charlemagne: the vast majority of Idaho’s judges are initially appointed as opposed to elected. This is gives such judges the tremendous advantage of incumbency when they do face their retention elections. This is clearly contrary to the spirit of the Idaho Constitution. Looking at the remarks then Justice Linda Copple Trout made to the Idaho Statesman on June 25, 2007 as well as the Idaho Judicial Council’s advocacy of appointment (they refer to it as “merit selection”) in their annual reports should leave no doubt that many of these early resignations are politically and strategically motivated. Second Justice Roger Burdick (pictured) has been intimately connected with the Idaho Judicial Council which is one of the worst if not the very worst of the various states’ judicial disciplinary organizations. Full comment here .

Question: Would you rather see Supreme Court justices appointed or elected?