Dear Editor,
Jim Sherman’s recent column ‘Here come da judge, da partisan judge? (The Citizen, Jan. 16, page 7) brought up some excellent reasons for Michigan voters to support a state constitutional convention where judicial reforms could be discussed.
The call for a convention is already on the statewide ballot in November, 2010 as Proposal One. Please visit: www.EnergizeMichigan.com.
Mr. Sherman quoted journalist Richard Milliman who wrote: ‘Electing the supreme court justices, and other judges for that matter, lends itself to the sort of court system where justices sometimes seem to go to the highest bidder.?
One judicial reform plan recommends the appointment of judges initially for their first term and then require that they run for re-election so they can run on their ‘record.? The appointments would be based on legal and judicial credentials, not who could raise the most campaign funds. Excessive influence in the election of judges has become a much bigger issue following the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving campaign contributions by a West Virginia corporation to a judge who ultimately decided a case involving the corporation. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, all states are examining their rules regarding potential bias involving judges and their campaign contributors.
Michigan has a unique opportunity to address judicial reform at a constitutional convention in 2011, along with critical matters involving education funding, taxation, government restructuring, etc. It all starts with voters saying yes for Michigan on Ballot Proposal One in November, 2010.
Henry S. Woloson
Independence Township