Region, not selection method, explains state judge background differences
Evidence
Backgrounds of the justices do vary somewhat from state to state. For example, judges in the West are more likely to be born out of state than their counterparts elsewhere; judges in the South are more likely to be Democrats; and more Catholic and Jewish judges are found in the Northeast. Political scientists have concluded that region, rather than different modes of selection, explains almost all the interstate differences. Thus, at least in terms of judicial backgrounds, merit selection does not produce judges who differ significantly from those selected by other methods. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 454
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Regional culture, not selection method, explains interstate differences in judge backgrounds; Evidence that selection mode shapes judicial decisions is mixed and inconclusive — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 446; Selection method produces few but patterned differences in judicial voting. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 633 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Regional culture, not selection method, explains interstate differences in judge backgrounds
#corroborates(0.98) - Regional political culture shapes the attitudes judges bring to the bench
#expands(0.85) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2576 - Selection method produces few but patterned differences in judicial voting.
#complicates(0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 633 - Evidence that selection mode shapes judicial decisions is mixed and inconclusive
#complicates(0.72) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 446