• minnow@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Interestingly, Mexico is celebrating a change in their constitution that let’s them elect judges.

    I don’t think the problem in America is the fact these people are elected. I think the problem in America is Americans.

    • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I don’t think there’s anything special about Americans that makes them worse or better than anyone else. I think our problem is that we’ve got a heavily corrupted political system with a right wing propaganda machine that distorts a lot of people’s worldview and lawmakers who almost always find a way to just ignore their voters whenever they do manage to push for something progressive.

      I’m a little wary of electing judges, but on the other hand I don’t think voters can do any worse than our unelected bar associations and law enforcement lobbying has done in creating a judiciary that actually cares about justice, so I’d be open to electing more of our judges.

        • arrow74@lemm.ee
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          2 days ago

          Elected officials appointing judges to serve a term with a limit on the number of terms seems the best option imo.

          • ohulancutash@feddit.uk
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            2 days ago

            I prefer the independent judiciary appointing judges based on legal ability myself, and keeping elected officials well away from it.

            • arrow74@lemm.ee
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              2 days ago

              That’s creating a body of government not controlled by the people at all. I don’t like that.

              If there was a recall process then maybe

              • ohulancutash@feddit.uk
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                2 days ago

                The people are not legal scholars. They can choose who writes the law. Their influence is not constructive when it comes to the application of the law. A judge should make decisions based on law not on popularity contests.

                • arrow74@lemm.ee
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                  2 days ago

                  I hear where you are coming from, but the law descends from the will of the people or at least it should.

                  Allowing a body independent from government oversight decide who is allowed to be a lawyer and therefore a judge is a terrible idea though. Currently each state has an independent BAR association that decides who can and cannot practice law within the state. Handing over full judiciary control to a private organization like that is a terrible idea.

                  • ohulancutash@feddit.uk
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                    2 days ago

                    Political parties are also private organisations. You also bring a higher level of personal ambition into the mix.