ABOUT STATE COURTS

Sources: National Center for State Courts, American Judicature Society, Justice at Stake

© Images.com/Corbis (Jude Maceren)

Judicial candidates for high courts raised $206.4 million for campaigns from 2000 to 2009, up from $83.3 million the previous decade. 32 states and Washington, D.C.,

The first woman to serve on a state supreme require justices to retire at ages court was Florence Ellinwood Allen, who was ranging from 70 to 90. elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1922. Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard is the longest46 of 53 state courts of last resort have serving chief justice, serving since March 4, 1987. members without prior judicial experience. The mean salary for associate justices is $148,064; Vermont is the only state that allows a judge states—California, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee— have courts of last resort constituted entirely of judges with lower-court judicial experience. 7 the median salary is $142,341 . states have uncontested retention elections after initial appointment; 12 states grant life tenure or use reappointment. 17 to remain on the bench until age 90.

California ranks first in associate justices’ salaries at $218,237; Montana ranks last, at $106,185.

76 percent of Americans believe campaign contributions have at least some impact on a judge’s 81 percent of Americans believe a neutral judge, not the judge whose fairness is being challenged, should decide whether a judge should avoid a case involving campaign benefactors. courtroom decisions. 25 states choose their high court judges by the In 3 states—California, Maine appointment process known as merit selection. and New Jersey—the governor has sole discretion in naming In 2 states—South Carolina and Virginia— judicial appointees. the legislature appoints judges.