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The fact that the United States Supreme Court has decided to hear Caperton v. Massey — the West Virginia case involving campaign contributors and recusal of judges — is of course big news to lawyers and judges.  But it’s also important to members of the public who come to the courts to settle disputes.  Here’s what Hugh Caperton, plaintiff in the case, told The Charleston Gazette about the issue of campaign contributions:

“In this country, money has begun to pervade and permeate every election that’s held. And I agree that it’s the right of each citizen to support their candidate. But you can’t have Supreme Court seats being propped up by millions of dollars from one individual or group,” he said. “It makes the appearance of impropriety so great that normal citizens like myself lose faith in the judicial system.”

Our justice system is based on the public’s trust and confidence that the judges will follow the law and apply it to the facts presented.  When people worry that campaign contributions might influence a judge’s decisions, that confidence is undermined.  We can’t afford that.

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