Alabama: state considering change in judicial elections
The Birmingham News reports: Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb says she has millions of reasons the state should change the way it picks top judges:
$14.8 million was spent by candidates in partisan elections in appeals court races last year. Outside groups and political parties spent at least $1 million more.
$7.7 million was spent in the three-way contest for chief justice. It was the second most expensive court race in United States history.
Alabama is one of 13 states looking into changing how their judges are chosen. ...
Since 1993, Alabama Supreme Court candidates have raked in $53 million, tops in the nation. Most has come from groups with an economic stake in how judges rule in Alabama, including trial lawyers, businesses and gambling interests. -- State considers new way to pick judges