Electing judges under scrutiny

The Clarion-Ledger, 1/13/9

More than $1 million was spent last year on a Mississippi judicial campaign, renewing calls for changing the way the state selects it judges.

But with the 2009 Legislature under way, don’t expect any serious consideration of legislation to change the process, according to the powerful judiciary committee chairmen in both chambers.

“I don’t think we have a desire to tamper with what’s in place now,” House Judiciary A Committee Chairman Ed Blackmon Jr., D-Canton, said.

Senate Judiciary A Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, agrees. “My thinking is it will stay the same, although people are getting sick of the amount of money spent (on judicial campaigns),” he said.