Demographic representation is a third competing value in judicial selection

Evidence

Finally, still other commentators have insisted that the state and federal bench should reflect the demographic diversity of the nation. Supporters of a demographically representative judiciary have persuaded the courts that the Voting Rights Act applies to judicial elections, and they have had some success challenging selection systems that seem to disadvantage minority-group candidates. Even Presidents Reagan and Bush, who announced their opposition to affirmative action, considered demographics in their appointments of, for instance, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Clarence Thomas. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 591

Finally, still other commentators have insisted that the state and federal bench should reflect the demographic diversity of the nation. Presidents Clinton and Obama named women to fill three of the four vacancies on the Supreme Court that developed during their terms of office; and even Presidents Reagan and Bush, who announced their opposition to affirmative action, considered demographics in their appointments of Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Clarence Thomas. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 848

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the earlier claim that race and gender replaced region as top demographic factors in Supreme Court appointments; the O’Connor/Thomas examples instantiate that. — connects to: Selection-system shifts trace the alternating ideals of independence and accountability. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 370; No judicial selection system fully eliminates political influence — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 498; Female state supreme court justices grew from 10 in 1980 to 106 by 2007 — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 455 (+5 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 591; G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 848

Broader Connections

• Religious demographics historically shaped Supreme Court seat allocation #exemplifies (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 523
• Diversifying the judiciary can worsen in-group bias against defendants #complicates (0.75)