Impeachment rarely removes judges, so states added elections and term limits.

Evidence

The federal Constitution establishes a degree of accountability by providing for the impeachment of judges. Although Thomas Jefferson dismissed this check as a “mere scarecrow,” in the 1980s two district court judges were impeached and removed from office. The American states, however, have gone considerably further. Some fill judgeships by popular election and require judges to run for reelection. Almost all limit judges’ terms of office and require that they periodically seek reappointment or public approval of their performance in office. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 376

Categorization

• QUESTION: Which two district court judges were impeached and removed in the 1980s (Nixon and Hastings?)? Worth confirming.
• XREF: connects to: Judicial independence means freedom from improper external pressures. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 374; Retention elections rarely remove judges because voters lack information about them — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 436; Selection method produces few but patterned differences in judicial voting. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 633

Broader Connections

• Retention elections rarely remove judges because voters lack information about them #complicates (0.85) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 436
• Selection method produces few but patterned differences in judicial voting. #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 633