judgesonmerit.org

Gavel Grab notes that, in Alabama, every dollar raised for judicial election campaigns comes from private contributions. Every dollar spent on civil representation for poor citizens also comes from private donations. Sadly, donations to judicial campaigns are more than double the amount spent to fund civil justice for the poor.

We can’t say, of course, that eliminating judicial elections would automatically mean that more Alabamans would be inspired to donate to programs serving the civil legal needs of the poor. But it would mean that campaign contributions, and any potential influence of donors on the rulings of judges, would be eliminated. And maybe some of that money could be put to better use, helping impoverished citizens get the legal representation they need.