General Studies and Reports
The following studies, reports and sources address judicial reform generally. The Commission is reviewing a number of studies and reports regarding judicial reform, including the articles accessible here. The studies and reports on these pages do not reflect the opinion of the Commission.
Judicial Selection
Americana Judicature Society’s Citizens Center for Judicial Selection
A center created in 1991 which now conducts, creates, and releases research on judicial selection issues. It works to increase public involvement, monitor movements, and increase the base of research in the field of judicial selection.
Judicial Selection and Retention, National Center for State Courts
Serves as a think tank and interest group which seeks to increase the impartiality and efficacy of the court system in the United States. It creates research, identifies best practices, and studies possible upcoming trends.
Statement of the National Summit On Improving Judicial Selection
This report explains the recommendations of the National Summit on Improving Judicial Selection, which met in 2000. The summit consisted of judicial, legislative, and other leaders selected by the chief justices in the seventeen most populous states with judicial elections, together with invited representatives from national organizations that are among the leading proponents of judicial election reform.
Resolution from the Conference of Chief Justices
This resolution recommends steps needed to attract and retain on the bench fair and competent judges.
Roy A. Schotland, “New Challenges to State Judicial Selection”, Georgetown Law Journal, April, 2007
This law review article first examines the differences of composition of past and current judicial elections. It then covers the differences between state elections and the challenges of protecting the judiciary from partisanship. The article ends with several recommendations: increased term limits, increased community outreach and education, campaign conduct committees, and increasing the availability of recusal.
Campaign Finance
Tony Mauro, Pro-Business Ruling Likely in High Court Campaign Finance Case, The National Law Journal, September 10, 2009
Mark Sherman, Court signals it may loosen campaign spending, Associated Press, September 9, 2009