Litigation

Editorial: PA Mix of Money, Justice is Unhealthy

By Peter Hardin

It’s time to put an end to the unhealthy mix of money and justice, a Philadelphia Daily News editorial says in urging support for merit selection in Pennsylvania.

A day earlier, Gov. Ed Rendell renewed a push to allow citizens to vote on a constitutional amendment for merit selection of appellate judges. The editorial agrees with the sense of urgency for reform expressed by Rendell and points to a recent American Judicature Society study as a key reason:

“Three times out of five, at least one party to a civil case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2008 and 2009 had given a campaign contribution to one or more of the justices…[O]rdinary Pennsylvanians – like most Americans – can’t be blamed for wondering if campaign contributions do influence judicial decisions.

“So it’s finally, finally time to start the lengthy process that will allow Pennsylvanians to vote on merit selection.”

The editorial also mentions criminal charges recently filed against two sisters of a state Supreme Court justice in connection with last year’s election of a third sister, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that could pump tides of corporate dollars into political spending. It concludes with an unsavory example mixing money and justice:

“Imagine if judges didn’t have to rely on the kindness of ward leaders, or the luck of ballot position. And it would end the campaigns like that of Willie F. Singletary, a candidate for Traffic Court judge, who passed the hat around a group of motorcyclists saying, ‘You’re going to need me in Traffic Court.’ And then winning election.

“The Legislative clock is ticking.”

You can read more about Rendell’s  in articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. You can also learn more from Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 22, 2010 (boomark / email).