Judicial Elections in the 21st Century

Leading authorities on judicial elections present the latest cutting edge research on state judicial elections, and how they operate in relation to their past. Starting with an overview of contemporary judicial elections and the issues currently characterizing the debate about how best to select judges, the book turns to recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings and their effects on the conduct of judicial elections. Elections to state intermediate courts and state trial courts are examined, as are retention elections, ballot roll off, electoral margins, and organized efforts to oust judges. Some of the most important aspects of American politics are also examined, including citizens’ perceptions of the legitimacy of judges and courts, the diversity of the state court bench, and the decisions of judges on some of the most important issues of the day.

Chris W. Bonneau is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. His work on judicial elections has been published in the top journals in political science, and he has coauthored two books on the subject:In Defense of Judicial Elections (2009, Routledge) and Voters’ Verdicts: Citizens, Campaigns, and Institutions in State Supreme Court Elections (2015, University of Virginia Press). Additionally, he recently coeditedMaking Law and Courts Research Relevant: The Normative Implications of Empirical Research (2015, Routledge). Professor Bonneau currently serves as coeditor ofState Politics and Policy Quarterly, one of the most influential substantive outlets for scholarship on state judicial politics.

Melinda Gann Hall is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University. A pioneer in the field, her work on judicial elections spans over three decades and has been published in all of the most highly regarded journals in the discipline. She is coauthor of In Defense of Judicial Elections (2009, Routledge) and author ofAttacking Judges: How Campaign Advertising Influences State Supreme Court Elections (2015, Stanford University Press).