Basically no, and it definitely baffles people. That's not to say there isn't corruption and cronyism when appointing judges in other places :( . No system is

Basically no, and it definitely baffles people. That's not to say there isn't corruption and cronyism when appointing judges in other places :( . No system is perfect. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/world/americas/25iht-judge.4.13194819.html?mcubz=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/world/americas/25iht-judge... there are only two nations that have judicial elections, and then only in limited fashion. Smaller Swiss cantons elect judges, and appointed justices on the Japanese Supreme Court must sometimes face retention elections