Preserving judicial independence.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Author: Campbell, James M.
• Date: 01 April 2010

At the IADC Midyear Meeting in February, the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor was this year's Foundation Forum speaker. Central to her presentation, Justice O'Connor stressed the critical importance of preserving the independence of the judiciary. For those of us lucky enough to hear Justice O'Connor speak, we were reminded of the challenges that arise on the state court level of keeping and retaining qualified judges when judges are elected rather than selected.

Justice O'Connor has worked with the Judicial Selection Initiative encouraging states to transition to selection committees, rather than direct elections, for the appointment of state and local judges. Her work reminds all of us that the nation's founders recognized the importance that federal judges retain the freedom to make unpopular decisions without fear of political reprisal. This independence was intended to...