Judge upholds Montana law forbidding political endorsement of judicial candidates
Source: Missoulian
A federal judge Tuesday refused to block Montanas law forbidding political parties from endorsing a nonpartisan judicial candidate, saying their involvement could transform judicial contests into partisan races.
U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell of Helena said Montana clearly has an interest in maintaining a fair, impartial judiciary and that keeping political parties out of judicial elections might be allowed to achieve that goal.
If
political parties were permitted to endorse nonpartisan judicial candidates, then the elections might be nonpartisan only in form, he wrote. Nonpartisan elections, perhaps, can truly be nonpartisan only if political parties are prohibited from endorsing candidates.
The Sanders County Republican Central Committee has asked to strike down the endorsement ban, saying its an infringement on the committees free speech. The GOP group wants to endorse candidates in judicial races, saying it would like to promote judges who share its ideological views.
Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/judge-upholds-montana-law-forbidding-political-endorsement-of-judicial-candidates/article_750f76e4-bfc3-11e1-96ab-0019bb2963f4.html
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Because the big money can run a GOP Koch lackey with no brand and still be the same animal. They can run on being non-partisan and later do their bidding.
Do you think it will make a difference?
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)The guys are donating millions apiece to Romney don't have to incorporatred to give the money; and now they don't even have to put it on paper who they are. All under the table, you don't know who they are. Could be frigging Martians for all we know.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)littlewolf
(3,813 posts)Because if this happens, all it does is legitimize the politicalization of the judges. Simple. That's why it is an issue.
EVERYTHING that is going on is nothing but an assault against Democracy. ALL of it.
Javaman
(62,534 posts)the ball is now to you scalia.