Why do we have judicial elections? It’s not as if people actually pay attention. I mean those of us in the profession do. We go to the candidate forums, we know the candidates, but who else does? Does your neighbor or your golf buddy? Do they even know that judges are something they vote on at the state and local level? You’d be surprised to find that several people I asked weren’t sure.

Sad to say, most people don’t realize the importance of a judge. They don’t realize that judges shape the law by defining and molding it through their decisions. Of those that do, are they looking further to determine the political and practical effects of rulings? The fact that we ask that question means we have failed to impart this importance on far too many people.

By the time a voter is at that point on the ballot, aren’t most of them voting based on party? Then they get to the judicial races. Nonpartisan, little name recognition, so people rarely know what to do.