Appoint judges, elect judges -- whatever. Kissing the rings of cynical politicians or winning a popular election by campaigning on issues that have nothing to do with the judiciary are equally unsavory paths to the state's highest court. But whatever course we choose to pick our jurists, there is one thing that is clear: There should be no re-elections.
The decision by the Court of Appeals to send the suit over the collective bargaining bill to the State Supreme Court is a perfect example. While we don't know yet when the court will take up the case, we do know what Justice David Prosser will be thinking as he writes his decision. It will hardly have anything to do with the letter of the law.
Judges should not be considering public opinion when they make rulings. We could eliminate that threat by implementing term limits for justices. 5 years, 10 years -- again, whatever. But there's simply no reason to have a judiciary if its members are simply legislators in robes.
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