… In fact, according to a new report by Emory law professor and economist Joanna Shepherd, released by the left-leaning American Constitution Society, only three states grant lifetime tenure to judges on their highest court. … When judges are elected, that means they have to raise campaign money — a lot of money, in fact. …
The prospect of money influencing legislative outcomes is troubling enough, but the judicial system is intended to be impervious to this kind of thing. Shepherd’s results suggest that, where judges are elected, that’s hardly the case. [cont.]
Dylan Matthews, Washington Post