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Friday, May 18, 2007

Courts - Brennan Center announces new report on impact of special interest pressure on state courts

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law has announced a new report, "The New Politics of Judicial Elections 2006." Here are some quotes from the press release:

WASHINGTON, DC – Special interest pressure is metastasizing into a permanent national threat to the fairness and impartiality of America’s courts, according to a major new report from the Justice at Stake Campaign and its partners, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and the National Institute for Money in State Politics. At the same time, a new survey conducted by Zogby International for the Committee for Economic Development shows that four out of five business leaders worry that campaign contributions have a major influence on decisions rendered by judges.

“Justice at Stake’s report shows how in too many states, judicial elections are becoming political prizefights where partisans and special interests seek to install judges who will answer to them instead of the law and the constitution,” said former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. “I hope that every state that elects judges in partisan elections will consider reforms.”

“The 2006 election cycle was the most threatening year yet to the fairness and impartiality of America’s courts,” said Bert Brandenburg, executive director of the Justice at Stake Campaign. “The good news is that a broad cross-section of American civic, legal and business leaders appear ready to say enough is enough, and to work for reforms that will protect our courts.”

Here is a link to the 68-page report. For those curious, Indiana is mentioned three times in the report: in the graph on p. 35 of the pdf document; in the footnote on p. 39; and at the end of the 2nd paragraph on p, 51.

Also available is a 2007 report by Justice at Stake titled: "Crusading Against the Courts: The New Mission to Weaken the Role of the Courts in Protecting Our Religious Liberties." Access it here.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 18, 2007 07:19 AM
Posted to Courts in general