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LAS VEGAS -- The I-Team has spent months following the money going into some of the most important elections in Clark County.
Specifically, district court judges, the ones who hand down punishments and decide the fates of people and businesses every day.
The I-Team talked to some of the biggest fundraisers of this election season about whether they can remain fair despite collecting tens of thousand of dollars from lawyers and law firms, many of whom have active cases in their courtrooms.
Most people never see a judge and aside from jury duty may never see the inside of a courtroom in person. When they do, they want to know the judge will be impartial and justice will be blind.
Judge Susan Johnson has an opponent in her campaign for a district court seat. As of June, she led all candidates for money raised from lawyers and law firms with $121,000.
Her opponent, Jacob Hafter, has raised under $20,000 from the legal profession.
"We don't like to be in the business of trying to raise money, but obviously as long as we have the system in place, judges are to be elected, judges are going to have to run campaigns, which of course means, campaigns require money," Judge Johnson said.
Johnson said the money is extremely important from paying for signs in vacant lots to buying billboards along the freeway. These judicial candidates don't get a lot of attention yet they need all the exposure they can get.
"I would much rather do my job then be out there campaigning, so I would love to see a merit system, a retention system in place," Judge Johnson said.
A merit system would replace the current election model that essentially turns judges into politicians.
Full Article & Source:
I-Team: Judges answer to money raised for election campaigns
3 comments:
Do away with the election process.
How do people know whom they're voting for, anyway, if judicial discipline is confidential?
I don't know if I agree or not, Thelma. If judges are appointed, then who is going to watch out to be sure cronyism isn't involved?
Thelma, I agree 100% with you. We all know the need for exposing the evidence of attorney and judicial negligence and misconduct. This need presents an opportunity for victims and advocates, an opportunity somewhat like Angie's List, an opportunity which could bring in the $$$ needed to build the kind of advocacy campaign which will bring about meaningful protections against the legal abuse and negligence which many of us have experienced. I hope you'll consider such an opportunity, which I'd be glad to discuss with you if you e-mail me at tvfields@oh.rr.com
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