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More "Merit Selection" Discussion
Friday, May 16, 2008
By Russ Diamond
Founder-Chairmen
PA Clean Sweep
Pennsylvanians need to pay close attention to the movement by the legal community to eliminate our right to vote for appellate court judges in Pennsylvania.
Although there are indeed some problems with our judicial process in the Commonwealth, none of them are a result of We the People electing judges. A movement toward "merit selection" would only make the real problems worse, while pretending to fix some imaginary problems.
Here are a few things you can do to bring yourself up to speed on the issue:
Read Up...
PACleanSweep Chairman Russ Diamond recently sat on a panel addressing the judicial selection process at a Commonwealth Foundation "Policy and Principles" luncheon. Russ represented the position that while the current electoral system is not perfect, it could be improved, rather than just throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
On the other side of the issue was Bob Heim, Chairman of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, a group advocating for We the People to give up our sovereign right to elect judges in favor of a "merit selection" system controlled by a commission dominated by legislative and gubernatorial appointees.
Read the PACleanSweep Commentary
Listen up...
Radio's "The Box," hosted by Matt Brouillette, will focus on whether abandoning the electoral system is a wise move on Saturday, May 17 at 8am on WHP 580 AM, Harrisburg.
After the show airs live on the radio, it will be available for listening anywhere in Pennsylvania via the internet.
Click here to listen to The Box online
Tune In...
PACleanSweep's Russ Diamond will appear on PCN's live call-in show on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 pm to further discuss the way we select appellate court judges in Pennsylvania.
Viewers can join the conversation by dialing 1.877.726.5001 during the broadcast. Also appearing will be Barry Kauffman of Common Cause/Pennsylvania and Lynn Marks of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts.
Check your local cable guide for the PCN channel number on your cable system.
Speak Out...
PACleanSweep urges all Pennsylvanians to contact their legislators to voice their opinion regarding "merit selection" of judges.
Are Pennsylvania voters smart enough to elect judges? We think so. Should a commission dominated by Executive and Legislative branch appointees pick our judges instead? We think not.
Find & Contact Your Local Legislators
Russ Diamond, Chair
PACleanSweepAbout PACleanSweep
PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to reforming state government in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.
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Annville, PA 17003NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For further information please refer to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
