Polling Excerpts

Polling of average voters, business leaders and judges themselves shows overwhelming concern about the impact of special interest money on the integrity of American courts.

83 % of all voters said that campaign contributions have a "great deal" or "some" influence on a judge's decisions.

84 % believe all contributions to a judicial candidate should be "quickly disclosed and posted to a web site."

Source: Justice at Stake
October 2011 national poll

95 % believe that judges should remove themselves from cases involving campaign contributors (77 % believe it is “very important” judges avoid such cases.)   
 
78 % are “very” or “somewhat” concerned that judicial candidates have to raise more money, run television advertising, and potentially seek party and political interest group support. 

Source: Justice at Stake
January 2008 poll of Minnesota Citizens

97 % of all elected state Supreme Court justices said they are under a “great deal” of, or some pressure to raise money during their election years. More than 90% of all elected judges said they are under pressure to raise money in election years. 

Source: Justice at Stake
2001 National poll of state and local judges

79 % of business leaders believe that campaign contributions made to judges have at least some influence on their decisions in the courtroom.

90 % of business leaders are concerned that campaign contributions and political pressure will make judges accountable to politicians and special interest groups instead of the law and the Constitution. 

Source: Committee for Economic Development
2007 national poll of business leaders

81% believe judges should not decide motions asking them to step aside, believing that other neutral jurists should make that call

Source: Justice at Stake
2009 National Poll

More than 90% believe judges should not hear cases involving individuals or groups that contributed to their campaign

Source: USA Today/Gallup
2009 National Poll

Notable Quotes: What leading legal authorities say about the danger to American courts

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