Highlights
Revised Advice on Questionnaires
Revised Advice on QuestionnairesA few recommendations include: 1. Do not be rushed in deciding how to handle the questionnaire. 2. Never use the pre-printed answers provided on the questionnaire. 3. Consider responding with a letter 4. Never use a judicial Canon to justify a decision not to respond. 5. Distinguish general-interest, non-advocacy groups from special interest advocacy groups—and be consistent. Read more »

2008 Workshop on Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees
2008 Workshop on Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight CommitteesThe third in a series of national workshops designed to help facilitate the creation and ongoing efforts of oversight committees. The 2008 Workshop included sessions on Oversight Committees in the 2006 Elections, Getting the Message Out, Election Year Activities, and a Primer on Legal Issues Related to Judicial Campaigns. In addition, the Workshop introduced a timely new feature on Judicial Campaign Monitoring on the Web available by video and PowerPoint (.pdf, 256kb). Read more »

Campaign Oversight Committees and the Challenge of Perpetuating Ethical Judicial Elections
Campaign Oversight Committees and the Challenge of Perpetuating Ethical Judicial ElectionsA new Justice System Journal article by David Rottman.
This article considers the potential contribution that judicial campaign oversight committees can make to maintaining ethical conduct during judicial elections. There is renewed interest in oversight committees because most are...
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Effective Judicial Campaign Committees: A How-To Handbook
Effective Judicial Campaign Committees: A How-To Handbook The Handbook is an introduction, a primer for those with an interest in establishing a new committee or rejuvenating an existing one. The contents draw upon lessons learned by the 20 conduct committees that now exist in ten states. The Handbook is designed for use by concerned citizens, lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Read more »



The National Ad Hoc Advisory Committee was established by the National Center for State Courts to enhance the quality of judicial campaigns and candidate behavior by encouraging the establishment of and supporting the work of judicial campaign conduct committees. The committee's efforts are funded, in part, by the Open Society Institute.