Posted on 10/16/2008 2:21:22 PM PDT by HIDEK6
How does a voter become educated on the politics of the judges who appear on the ballot each election?
I've always passed on these races because I've never known who the good guys were.
Can someone share their methods for determining what judges to vote for?
The answer is in the “crime blotter” of your local paper. If crime is rampant, none of them are any good. If crime is far below the norm, some of the judges are good.
You have to remember, when anyone is voted into elected office, the game suddenly changes from representing the words they said to the things they want in life such as power, money and the good life.
In Illinois I call Illinois Right to Life for recommendations.
Most of the Judges on either side of the aisle up Chicago way are pro-choice, so most of the races I leave blank, but the good ones I know to support.
Sometimes there are conservative organizations in your state that will rate some of them. In Texas for example, we have the Free Market Foundation, Texas Public Policy Foundation, etc. Many of those produce voter guides that will either rate them or show voting records. There is always a lot less info on the judges, though, and I wish they’d do a better job with that.
When in doubt, vote incumbents out.
Vote NO on all bond issues.
My quickie guide for election day.
Here in Union County, GOP campaign workers hand out a slip with the names of the (unmarked) Republican judge candidates. Depending on to whom we’re speaking, we say something like “These are the conservative candidates for judge,” or “These judges will be tough on crime.”
The candidate I’m working for in this election said the code word for Democrat judicial candidates is “fair and impartial.” We saw a candidate on PBS the other night who seemed like a fine fellow, military veteran, been in office a while, but then he said, “Fair and impartial,” and a minute later, he said he was endorsed by the teachers’ union. That’s it for him.
Maybe looking at the candidates’ websites to see who has endorsed them would help.
For our state (Michigan) the Right to Life people have a website where they at least discuss the abortion issue and judges, plus give their backgrounds.
Sometimes there are conservative organizations in your state that will rate some of them. In Texas for example, we have the Free Market Foundation, Texas Public Policy Foundation, etc.
Keep in mind that you will often have no conservative choice, The key is to seek out and support the true conservatives in those precious instances when they appear on the ballot. Don’t worry much about voting between two conventional (liberal) judges. When there’s more than a dime’s worth of difference, you’ll be able to tell.
If anyone does sue you for posting a vanity, and you lose, you'll know you had a liberal judge. ;-)
Check with local Right to Life, with the local Republican campaign HQ, with your attorney.
Check who has endorsed each judicial candidate. Unions, League of Women Voters, and so on are all bad signs.
That's the way I do it. Time-consuming but worth it. Once in a while I'll get a postcard from GOA with recommendations for a judge, which is greatly appreciated. I'd donate to the NRA for that kind of service.
Washington State Labor Council, American Federation of Teachers,Washington State Young Democrats,Council of Teamsters
One positive indicator is a statement like: committed to upholding and respecting our laws and constitution
Google each name with the state included in the search line. At each candidates web site, look for bio’s and for a list of their endorsements. That is usually enough.
Thanks for posting this.
This is frustrating. I looked up both of the Fresno candidates for Judge and all the endorsements were from indiduals I know nothing about.
Does anyone know anything about Jim Kelley or Doug Treisman.
To whoever lives in Fresno.... I called the Fresno RNC, and they recommended the following:
State Center CommunityCollege District, Trustee
Area No. 2 - William J. Smith
State Center CommunityCollege District, Trustee
Area No. 5 - Richard M. Caglia
My husband said that it’s very important that Nunez, Clark and Ryan get elected.
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