Making judicial independence a campaign issue

While many judicial candidates choose not to fully exercise their First Amendment rights to speak on disputed legal or political issues, they can and should campaign on judicial independence. With spring elections approaching, candidates for judicial office should speak to the electorate on the importance of protecting fair and impartial courts.

by Shirley S. Abrahamson

Good judging is good politics… the public will support judges whom they perceive as independent even if they do not agree with particular decisions. But judges have to talk about judicial independence and make it a campaign issue. Over the past twenty-five years, and in each of my elections, the concept of judicial independence has played a prominent role in my discussions with the public

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