How Do We Change the Courts?
In a word… Money.
It would be best to change the system, so that judges are not selected based on 30-second TV ads. Some states are making progress, and some outstanding organizations are working to enlighten voters and policy makers for the need and the course to change. But right now, money makes the difference.
The DJCC raises money from individuals across the country to counter the large corporate contributions spent in these campaigns. If a coal, oil or insurance corporation plots to take over a seat on a court, they have the money and the vehicle to move it. Using paper entities like the so-called “American Taxpayers Alliance,” millions of dollars are laundered from their source and transferred to TV stations or state Republican Party accounts to be used for “independent expenditure” campaigns that demonize Democrats. It’s a shell game, and these large corporate checks have made the difference in campaigns, because the Democrats have no similar entity.
The combined individual donations from within a state like West Virginia or Ohio will not equal a single check cut from a power company or insurance corporation. A Democratic candidate – or any impartial, qualified judge – cannot follow the finance laws of his or her state, run a campaign based on their resume and expect to win office. They will not have the money it takes to buy the required TV, radio, mail, and phone calls necessary to disseminate their qualifications and refute the attacks designed by the likes of Karl Rove.
These races cost more than most U.S. Senate races. But while incumbent senators and viable challengers have the DSCC to raise and spend money on their behalf, there has been no similar committee to help Democratic judges counter the out-of-state, corporate expenditures funneled against them. Until now.