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.
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.
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.
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.
Electing judges is better than appointing judges every day of the week.
Elected officials appointing judges to serve a term with a limit on the number of terms seems the best option imo.
I prefer the independent judiciary appointing judges based on legal ability myself, and keeping elected officials well away from it.
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
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.
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.
Political parties are also private organisations. You also bring a higher level of personal ambition into the mix.
They do not decide who is allowed to run for office though and independents can and do win races.
And frankly the last thing I want to do is change the system to create more private organizations like political parties.