Let’s abolish the popular election of American state judges.

See Mark Stern’s article in Slate, Justice for Sale: SCOTUS is poised to make judicial elections even more corrupt. As we’ve urged for years, let’s put an end to the popular election of American state judges. In the vast majority of American states, judges are still elected. That American regime is third-rate, a global embarrassment and, frankly, looks and smells fishy, even where elected judges are honest and able. It taints all elected judges. No other developed nations have this practice. Judges should be appointed on a merit system by people who know how to identify and evaluate the excellent lawyers we want on the bench. The popular elections still conducted in some form by 38 states provide us (with a few notable exceptions) with the dregs in terms of ability on the bench, in effect gives elected judges “constituents” and make justice seem as if it’s for sale.