New Poll Gauges Support for Judicial Selection Changes

A new poll by the Center for American Progress assesses voter support for judicial selection changes that are currently under consideration around the country. The highest level of support—80 percent—was found for stronger disclosure laws for judicial campaigns. Montana lawmakers are working to require outside groups to disclose funders of political ads, while a bill in the Wisconsin legislature would open an "issue-ads" loophole. Though Republican legislators in North Carolina want to move from nonpartisan to partisan judicial elections, 68 percent of voters nationwide prefer nonpartisan races. And while some conservative lawmakers in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee hope to do away with judicial nominating commissions, a majority of voters favor commission-based appointment of judges.