In the State of Maryland, there are two main judicial selection processes; the appointment and election processes. The Maryland state judiciary consists of a court of appeal, a circuit court, a court of special appeals and a variety of court trials (Abraham, 47)
In the judicial selection process in the Maryland State, the judges are always selected through a merit selection process. This selection process involves a nominated commission which serves a one year term. The Maryland state circuit court judges are selected in non-partisan elections. The judges run non-partisan campaigns and voters chose the judges they want in an election process. This is the best way since the citizens are able to choose individuals they are certain are going to serve them well. The trial court judges at appellate are selected through retention elections. Their initial term to serve is ten years. The district court judges are appointed by the governor and later confirmed by the senate for them to start working (Slotnick, 218).
During the selection process, there is always the question of diversity, accountability and judicial independence. In most cases, the process does not work to ensure judicial independence and accountability because most of the judges appointed are never free and impartial in their decisions in most cases. All judges should deliver verdicts impartially basing on the facts of the law without yielding to political pressure or any form on intimidation but most of them forget the oath they took to be in office. There are many bias and racism cases reported on judges.
The change I would suggest to the Maryland State judicial selection process is the removal of politics from the process. Politics pose ethical dilemmas for the sitting judges (Malleson, 79). Furthermore, it confuses the citizens since the whole process is politicized and they end up choosing the wrong person to lead them and this affects the running of the state. In addition, judicial elections are very costly and if avoided, it will save funds and also help in the state’s accountability. The appointment process also makes the system to lack independence and accountability.
Works Cited
Malleson, Kate. Appointing Judges in an age of Judicial Power: Critical Perspectives from around the World. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006. Print.
Abraham, Henry J. The Judicial Process: An Introductory Analysis of the Courts of the United States, England, and France. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print
Slotnick, Elliot. Judicial Politics: Readings from Judicature. New York: CQ Press, 2005. Print
