The quality of the judiciary is important to the legal profession and our community. Deciding who to vote for in judicial races is incredibly difficult for those who may be unfamiliar with judges and courts. Attorneys can, and should, play a critical role in bridging the information gap between the judicial system and Hamilton County voters. It is incumbent upon every lawyer in our community to educate voters in a way that helps increase public confidence and trust in the judicial election process.
Judicial elections are very different from elections for other branches of government, primarily because the Code of Judicial Conduct prevents judges and judicial candidates from discussing their views on many topics. This allows the candidates to remain fair and impartial while also avoiding the appearance of bias or prejudice.
Attorneys can provide valuable insights and information on the CBA’s annual Judicial Poll that voters can consult to elect well-qualified, experienced, fair, and independent judges. Additionally, it is important for attorneys to convey to voters the impact their vote has on the court system. This helps to ensure judicial elections are not plagued by partisan rhetoric and misleading information that can result in unqualified candidates being elected to the bench.
Many CBA members are trial attorneys who have had personal interactions with the judicial candidates. Therefore, they can offer unique insights on each. Having feedback that’s been gathered from direct access to the candidates can be pivotal in helping voters learn about their characteristics and qualifications, such as legal skills, experience, competence, reputation, character, integrity, ethics, temperament, efficiency, and fairness.
The CBA’s Judicial Poll provides an aggregate rating for every candidate based upon the candidate’s own merit rather than a comparison of candidates opposing each other in a particular race. The anonymity of the Judicial Poll and the requirement that attorneys only evaluate candidates they know lends credibility and integrity to the ratings.
As a former judge and now as the Prosecutor, I was always surprised (and concerned) at just how many voters declined to vote down the ballot by failing to cast votes in judicial races. I firmly believe this stems from a lack of information and confidence by voters to make informed choices. Public trust in the court system erodes when we do not elect a strong, impartial, and independent judiciary that will work tirelessly to protect the rights of litigants and victims while making our communities safe places to live, work, and raise a family.
Attorneys enjoy a privileged position of being able to offer voters a window into the courts, the judges, and the qualifications of judicial candidates. I would encourage each of you to perform a valuable public service by energizing and educating voters about judicial races, which gives each voter a reason to vote the entire ballot. Your role in engaging the electorate will ensure the most qualified candidates are elected to serve on the bench in Hamilton County.