On Appointing Judges by Committee

Here's some common sense by a former circuit court judge and current professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

"People assume there are no politics in the appointment process, but right now we have a newly appointed justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and you can see that politics are quite evident there," said Joseph Colquitt, a professor who served as an Alabama circuit judge from 1971 to 1991. His comment referred to President Bush's selection of John G. Roberts to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Conner on the nation's high court.

Colquitt said, "Sure, if judges have to raise funds there is concern for whether they will be obligated to certain individuals or groups who raise those funds. ... On the other hand, if you have appointed judges, how did those judges get nominated in the first place? What connections did they have? And then, what allegiance do they owe to the ones who nominated or appointed them?" (Mobile Register)