4 ms·

The main boon is that a judge can be removed democratically. Obviously there are better ways to do that, like having a recall process or a vote of no confidence

The main boon is that a judge can be removed democratically. Obviously there are better ways to do that, like having a recall process or a vote of no confidence, but the USA's states were mostly created during a time when being able to vote judges out of office was politically trendy. Also, speaking as somebody who recently voted for local judges and prosecutors, I got to choose a prosecutor who won't take police-union money and a judge who thinks they can do better than the possibly-corrupt incumbent. I wouldn't give up this vote just for some imagined peace in the political process.

chrisseaton 6y ago
> I got to choose a prosecutor who won't take police-union money You see this seems massively inappropriate in the first place. Take that money for what? A prosecutor shouldn't take any money from anyone, in any circumstance, apart from their salary. They shouldn't even be talking to a political organisation like a union. Both things seem like grounds for automatic dismissal for a prosecutor. Why are you having to check for it as a voter?
- Kednicma 6y ago
  The district attorney, being an elected prosecutorial position, can spend money during the election; I chose the candidate who did not have a political action committee funded by the police union. Yes, it's stressful being a vigilant voter. But what's the alternative? Not caring?
  - fzeroracer 6y ago
    The alternative is actually having punishments for officials that are corrupt or breaking the law. Instead we have a situation where, as the article points out, corruption is swept away where people get to walk away with a cozy retirement and say 'well gosh I regret my mistakes' as if that fixes the fact that they ruined someone's life over a failure to pay traffic fees. That's the example of the revolving door and people who abuse it get away scott-free.
  - cgriswald 6y ago
    So the main benefit of being able to vote for judges is that you can vote against one who is doing something that wouldn’t be allowed in a sane system anyway, by voting for one who did the same thing just with groups you don’t disapprove of...?
  - chrisseaton 6y ago
    > But what's the alternative? Not electing prosecutors and judges. That's where this thread started.

chrisseaton 6y ago

> I got to choose a prosecutor who won't take police-union money You see this seems massively inappropriate in the first place. Take that money for what? A prosecutor shouldn't take any money from anyone, in any circumstance, apart from their salary. They shouldn't even be talking to a political organisation like a union. Both things seem like grounds for automatic dismissal for a prosecutor. Why are you having to check for it as a voter?

Kednicma 6y ago
The district attorney, being an elected prosecutorial position, can spend money during the election; I chose the candidate who did not have a political action committee funded by the police union. Yes, it's stressful being a vigilant voter. But what's the alternative? Not caring?
- fzeroracer 6y ago
  The alternative is actually having punishments for officials that are corrupt or breaking the law. Instead we have a situation where, as the article points out, corruption is swept away where people get to walk away with a cozy retirement and say 'well gosh I regret my mistakes' as if that fixes the fact that they ruined someone's life over a failure to pay traffic fees. That's the example of the revolving door and people who abuse it get away scott-free.
- cgriswald 6y ago
  So the main benefit of being able to vote for judges is that you can vote against one who is doing something that wouldn’t be allowed in a sane system anyway, by voting for one who did the same thing just with groups you don’t disapprove of...?
- chrisseaton 6y ago
  > But what's the alternative? Not electing prosecutors and judges. That's where this thread started.