Judicial independence advocates favor insulated selection and long tenure

Evidence

Some have argued that the independence of judges should be safeguarded so that judges can render decisions unaffected by partisan concerns or external pressures. They have championed modes of selection that minimize the influence of political parties, such as merit selection and nonpartisan elections. They also have promoted extended terms of office for judges—or tenure, revocable only for wrongdoing—and have opposed competitive elections for the retention of judges. To some extent their efforts have succeeded, as indicated by the rapid spread of merit selection in the states since the mid-twentieth century. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 589

Categorization

• DEFINE: Pairs the independence ideal with its concrete institutional expressions: merit selection, nonpartisan elections, tenure for good behavior, no retention contests.
• XREF: connects to: Judicial independence means freedom from improper external pressures. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 374; Ideology has replaced patronage in appeals court selection since recent decades; An insulated judiciary raises the durability and value of legislative bargains. — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 334 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• An insulated judiciary raises the durability and value of legislative bargains. #corroborates (0.90) — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 334
• Career-progression review can compromise civil-law judicial independence #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 791