Workshop on Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees
Prava Hotel Suites
Dallas, Texas
January 23 & 24, 2008
www.judicialcampaignconduct.org
Background and Other Materials Provided to Workshop Participants
Overview
sample events that may occur in a judicial campaign season
describe the kind of situation that would be of greatest concern to you if it arose during a judicial election
Publications of the National Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Judicial Campaign Oversight
Judicial Campaign Oversight Digest – Volume 1, Issue 1
Articles About or By Oversight Committees
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Speech Police Should Always be Off Duty”
Chicago Sun-Times: “Grilling by Interest Groups Puts Judges on Hot Seat”
“But courts are supposed to decide cases one at a time, based only on the facts and the law before them, instead of being held hostage to political ultimatums.”
The Columbus-Dispatch: “Local Judicial Candidates Took the High Road”
“It is possible to make your best case to the voters without demeaning the office you will ultimately win or lose.”
Judicature: “Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees' Complaint Handling in the 2006 Elections”
“The importance of creating new judicial campaign oversight committees and maintaining existing ones could not be more paramount.”
“Campaign oversight committees...anticipate problems by taking steps to minimize the likelihood that they will arise and, if they do arise, provide the terms of reference through which they should be resolved.”
Materials Produced by Oversight Committees
Georgia Committee for Ethical Judicial Campaigns: Voters Guide to Judicial Elections
Georgia Committee for Ethical Judicial Campaigns: Justice for All of Georgia Media Guide
“Asking in advance how a judge would rule on a particular case is like asking an umpire to call a pitch before it's thrown.”
Oversight Committee Rules, Procedures and Agreements
Alabama Judicial Campaign Conduct Oversight Committee: Campaign Agreement
“The actions of candidates for judicial office affect the integrity and independence of our judicial system reflecting on both the Alabama Judicial System and the State of Alabama.”
Columbus Bar Association Judicial Campaign Advertising Committee: Internal Regulations and Procedures
Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee: Complaints and Investigations Procedures
Ohio State Bar Association Judicial Election Campaign Advertising Monitoring Committee: Statement of Purpose
“The foremost concern, however, reflects a widely shared view that judicial elections are in some respects different from elections of a person seeking executive or legislative positions.”
Oversight Committee Reports
2006 Report of the Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee
Kentucky 2006 Judicial Elections
Sample Questionnaires
Sample Judicial Campaign Ads