San Francisco Chronicle/CalMatters: Why Does California Elect Local Judges?

02.24.2024 / By Sameea Kamal
San Francisco Chronicle/CalMatters: Why Does California Elect Local Judges?

That's concerning to Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of Common Cause California, an advocacy group that focuses on fair elections and representation: "Our judges are supposed to be above the fray of politics and totally unbiased in their decision-making," he wrote in an email. "Whether or not that's actually true, it certainly does not help public perception of the judiciary to force our judges to raise special interest dollars, make campaign promises, and so forth." He added that even very engaged voters struggle to find information on these contests.

That’s concerning to Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of Common Cause California, an advocacy group that focuses on fair elections and representation: “Our judges are supposed to be above the fray of politics and totally unbiased in their decision-making,” he wrote in an email. “Whether or not that’s actually true, it certainly does not help public perception of the judiciary to force our judges to raise special interest dollars, make campaign promises, and so forth.”

He added that even very engaged voters struggle to find information on these contests.

 

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See More: Judicial EthicsVoting & ElectionsEthics & Accountability