A report by the American Constitution Society about business group donations to judicial campaigns supports a perception that “justice is for sale,” writes Liz Seaton, acting JAS executive director. See Gavel Grab for more.
"Judges must be perceived as beyond price. When litigants go to court they ... do not want the umpire calling balls and strikes before the game has begun."
Ann Walsh Bradley, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
Ann Walsh Bradley, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
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Addressing the Philadelphia Bar Association, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor called it a “serious problem that people in this country think of judges as politicians in robes.” Learn more from Gavel Grab.
The death of North Carolina's public financing for judicial elections appears to be near, and “the real losers will be North Carolina residents," Justice at Stake warned. Learn more from Gavel Grab.
"Now, in many states, justices are involved in bare-knuckle partisan brawls similar to those that characterize non-judicial elections," said a new report on a tide of out-of-state spending in judicial races. See Gavel Grab for more.
A report by the American Constitution Society sparked renewed media attention to concerns that interest group spending on judicial elections may influence rulings by judges. Find out more from Gavel Grab.
President Obama, acting on the recommendation of the Office of Management and Budget, has forwarded to Congress a request by the U.S. courts for a $73 million emergency infusion. Learn more from Gavel Grab.
A secretive federal court in Washington is getting increased scrutiny as debate rages over disclosures of programs for government surveillance phone call and Internet data. See Gavel Grab for more.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stressed themes of preserving judicial independence and impartiality in an Oklahoma speech this week. Read more at Gavel Grab.
A British newspaper reported that the telephone records of millions of Americans are being collected by the National Security Agency under a secret court order from April. Gavel Grab has details.
There's continuing debate in New Jersey and elsewhere: Is judicial independence threatened, or are the people who warn about it engaging in "hysteria"? For details, see Gavel Grab.
President Obama’s naming three picks for the D.C. Circuit gives the Senate a new opportunity to show bipartisanship and strengthen our courts, Justice at Stake said. Learn more from Gavel Grab.
New North Carolina polling data shows strong popular support for the state’s public financing program for appellate court candidates. JAS helped commission the poll. See Gavel Grab for more.
More editorials from outside Washington are rejecting an argument that President Obama's filling three D.C. Circuit Court judgeships would constitute "court packing." Find details in Gavel Grab.
The Kansas courts are being “decimated” by legislative attacks from “ultraconservatives” unhappy with court decisions that didn’t go their way, the Kansas City Star warned. Learn more from Gavel Grab.
Justice at Stake has voiced its support of a recent request by the federal courts for an emergency infusion of $73 million, including $41 million for federal public defenders. Read Gavel Grab for more.
Justice at Stake said it was encouraged by the way President Obama talked in a speech on national security and counterterrorism policy about the Constitution's protections. See Gavel Grab for details.
The Senate confirmed Sri Srinivasan for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on a 97-0 vote, and Justice at Stake welcomed the "break in a confirmation logjam." Learn more from Gavel Grab.
A "heated ideological battle" appears to be coming next year "about the role and significance of the state’s highest court,” a Kansas newspaper editorial warned. Gavel Grab has details.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey berated state Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin, who spoke out earlier and urged the public to protect impartial jurists from retribution by politicians. Find more at Gavel Grab.
Will Pennsylvania see the next serious push to remove a state Supreme Court justice in a retention election? Two reform activists want to make that happen. Gavel Grab has details.
New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin discussed the importance of protecting impartial courts from political influence and called on the public to help. For more, see Gavel Grab.
Justice at Stake raised concerns about legislation under consideration in some states to prosecute officials, including judges, who enforce federal firearms laws. For more, see Gavel Grab.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to approve President Obama’s nomination of Sri Srinivasan for the nation’s second most influential appeals court. Learn more from Gavel Grab.
The Kansas Bar Association’s board rejected a proposal from key legislators wanting to revamp the state’s merit selection plan for choosing top judges and add Senate confirmation as a requirement. Read more at Gavel Grab.
Efforts to change the way judges are selected have grown into a national trend, according to an AP article about an attack on merit selection in Kansas. The article also spotlighted Justice at Stake. See Gavel Grab for more.
