The F'd Up Way Most Judges Are Selected Breeds Corruption
All over the country judges are selected in ways which are far from perfect; this selection process infects the court and leads to corruption.
Last evening, I appeared with Maryann Petri on Slam the Gavel and with Kenneth Rosa on the Father’s Right Movement.
On both shows, we discussed the potential that the notorious Missouri lawyer and guardian ad litem, Elaine Pudlowski, may become a judge.
An important part of the discussion is that Missouri- in certain counties- has an awful method of choosing judges.
A committee of other judges receives submissions from candidates; the committee chooses a few selections which are sent to the Governor. The Governor then chooses one. Here is part of the press release.
The commission received 20 applications and interviewed all applicants during two days of public interviews on June 6 and 7, 2022. The commission believes these candidates, chosen from a field of extremely qualified individuals, possess those qualities essential to the fair and efficient administration of justice. The commission is confident each of these individuals is capable of serving well and honorably if selected by the governor. Pursuant to Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 10.29, the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Higgins received five votes, Pudlowski received five votes, and Roither received five votes.
The members of the Twenty-Second Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Sherri B. Sullivan, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, and commission chair; Matthew J. Devoti, Chris Goodson, Andre Harris, and J. Brent Dulle, secretary of the commission.
This kind of selection process breeds corruption because it ensures that only insiders are chosen.
It’s no wonder with this process that Elaine Pudlowski would be a finalist. I asked Governor Parson’s office about this earlier this week.
I wanted to ask a broader question and see if Governor Parson's office would like to weigh in.
It's my understanding that in Missouri judges are selected first by a committee made up of other judges and others in the legal profession. That committee selects a slate and the governor picks from that slate. Is this accurate? If so, isn't this an awful way of selecting judges? This provides almost no oversight or accountability. It breeds insiders getting positions like Ms. Pudlowski.
Has the governor given any thought to proposing something to change the way judges are selected in Missouri? Would he favor direct elections?
Governor Parson’s office did not respond to my query.
Missouri is not alone in having an f’d up selection process.
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