Missoula County opposes HB 355, Require partisan elections for state, district, local judges, heard this morning in the Judiciary Committee. This bill would require essentially all judges in the state to be elected based on political party. The fundamental tenant of the judiciary is the idea that all are entitled to a fair and impartial trial, as embodied in statues of Lady Justice wearing her blindfold. HB 355 would tear off this blindfold by requiring judges to disclose their political affiliation, which has the potential to create claims of bias and animus in a system that should be separate from politics. Will defendants heard by a judge of the opposing political party be allowed redress on the potential for political bias? Will disclosing political party reveal predisposition to rulings in some manner and thereby taint the judicial process? HB 355 is nothing more than a veiled attempt to create a litmus test for judges.
Missoula County opposes HB 355, Require partisan elections for state, district, local judges, on the House floor Monday morning. This bill would require Supreme Court Justices in the state to be elected based on political party. The fundamental tenant of the judiciary is the idea that all are entitled to a fair and impartial trial, as embodied in statues of Lady Justice wearing her blindfold. HB 355 would tear off this blindfold by requiring Supreme Court Justices to disclose their political affiliation, which has the potential to create claims of bias and animus in a system that should be separate from politics. Will defendants heard by a judge of the opposing political party be allowed redress on the potential for political bias? Will disclosing political party reveal predisposition to rulings in some manner and thereby taint the judicial process? HB 355 is nothing more than a veiled attempt to create a litmus test for justices.
Sent Feb. 25:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives France and Tenenbaum,
Missoula County opposes HB 355, Require partisan elections for state, district, local judges, heard this morning in the Judiciary Committee. This bill would require essentially all judges in the state to be elected based on political party. The fundamental tenant of the judiciary is the idea that all are entitled to a fair and impartial trial, as embodied in statues of Lady Justice wearing her blindfold. HB 355 would tear off this blindfold by requiring judges to disclose their political affiliation, which has the potential to create claims of bias and animus in a system that should be separate from politics. Will defendants heard by a judge of the opposing political party be allowed redress on the potential for political bias? Will disclosing political party reveal predisposition to rulings in some manner and thereby taint the judicial process? HB 355 is nothing more than a veiled attempt to create a litmus test for judges.
Please oppose HB 355.
Representatives France and Tenenbaum,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 355, Require partisan elections for state, district, local judges, on the House floor Monday morning. This bill would require Supreme Court Justices in the state to be elected based on political party. The fundamental tenant of the judiciary is the idea that all are entitled to a fair and impartial trial, as embodied in statues of Lady Justice wearing her blindfold. HB 355 would tear off this blindfold by requiring Supreme Court Justices to disclose their political affiliation, which has the potential to create claims of bias and animus in a system that should be separate from politics. Will defendants heard by a judge of the opposing political party be allowed redress on the potential for political bias? Will disclosing political party reveal predisposition to rulings in some manner and thereby taint the judicial process? HB 355 is nothing more than a veiled attempt to create a litmus test for justices.
Please oppose HB 355.