JFP Article: "Are Judges Up for Sale in Mississippi?"
The latest edition of the Jackson Free Press contains this article about Mississippi's elected judiciary system by reporter Adam Lynch. The article covers a lot of ground including:
- Minor-gate;
- Scruggs-gate;
- the U.S. Chamber's history of trying to influence judicial elections in Mississippi;
- Alex Altson's outing of the Chief Justice Jim Smith Supreme Court's pro-business voting record; and
- arguments for an appointed judiciary in Mississippi.
Former State Court Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz advocates a cleaner elected judiciary system:
The former justice remains convinced that a cleaner election system is the best method to get a good judge. “The elective system isn’t inherently bad in and of itself. It just has to be conducted in the right way,” Diaz said. “The way we conduct it now, it is flawed, where these groups from outside the state, outside the country even are allowed to come in and basically buy a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court if they want to.”
I am quoted in the article based on my support for an appointed judiciary.
Even appointed judges and retention elections can involve politics. Three of the justices of the Iowa Supreme Court were ousted yesterday in a retention election after a vigorous campaign fueled by outside dollars. OTB has the story: http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/three-iowa-justices-ousted-over-gay-marriage-ruling/
So you want Frank Melton appointing your judges? Or if you're a Democrat, Haley Barbour. I like elections. We get to know our judges and ask them what they stand for. They have to prove themselves to us.
No making a fat donation to a politician in return for an appointment.