The Indy Star has an article entitled Plan would let governor pick county’s judges. According to the article, HB 1703 would require Marion county judges to be appointed by the Governor. I’m shocked. More power for the Governor? That’s so unusual for the Daniels administration.
Horrible idea. I think the judges should be elected. But, if you’re going to take the decision out of Marion County’s voters directly, at worst the appointments should be made by the mayor and/or the city-county council. Why should an official elected by state-wide voters be appointing judges for the citizens of Marion County? This bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on a party line vote.
The Republicans say they want to “get the politics out of the judiciary.” I sympathize, I think permanent federal judgeships have something to recommend themselves. But limited term judgeships for a county appointed by a state official doesn’t do this. Leave the system alone. But, if they must tinker with judgeships, at least let Marion County officials do the appointing. There is no non-partisan rationale for handing it up to the Governor.
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