Governors’ Judicial Appointments Have Lasting Impact

Most of the campaign spotlight has been focused on what Gov. Martin O’Malley and former governor Bob Ehrlich plan to do during the next four years in terms of the economy, taxes and spending, missing an area where the next governor will also have lasting influence: judicial appointments.

With terms ranging from 10 to 15 years – and then the potential of staying on the bench for several terms after that – the judges a governor selects could make a lasting impression on the state and its laws.

For all of the state’s courts, a nominating commission vets people who apply to be judges. The top picks are presented to the governor, who does his own investigation and makes his selection. For circuit court judges, the governor’s selection is checked by putting those judges -- plus other attorneys interested in the position -- on the ballot after at least a year of service for the people to vote on.

Statistics kept by Baltimore attorney Chris West have shown that the state’s last two Democratic governors have overwhelmingly named Democrats to the bench. Some candidates -- like Alison Asti, a Republican in Anne Arundel County -- have said the process is biased and have challenged the sitting judges.

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