Just one week ago I attended a fundraiser for Bill O’Gurek, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Carbon County Commissioner. I’ve written in the past about how Republicans always seem so angry, while a gathering of Democrats is full of happy laughter. There we were, in the Summit Hill Community Center, enjoying each other’s company.
Two judicial candidates were also in attendance and gave short speeches. Although I plan to vote for both of them, I find the whole process by which we elect judges in Pennsylvania so...injudicious.
Very seldom do you hear of a federal judge up on charges of corruption. At the state level it is quite common, and it has something to do with the fact that approximately 90% of state judges are elected. In the wake of the Citizens United decision (speaking of corrupt judges), money is playing a larger and larger role in state judicial campaigns. While judges can recuse themselves in cases involving campaign contributors, they seldom do. It’s just one more American institution badly in need of reform.
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