Justices on the Ballot

This book investigates state supreme court elections in the United States, from World War II to the present.

This book investigates state supreme court elections in the United States from World War II to the present. Through original analysis of voting returns, campaign budgets, and illustrative case studies, the author shows that elections have become less politicized than commonly believed.Justices on the Ballot addresses two central questions in the study of judicial elections: how have state supreme court elections changed since World War II? And, what effects have those changes had on election outcomes, state supreme court decisions, and the public's view of the courts? To answer these questions, Herbert M. Kritzer takes the broadest scope of any study to date, investigating every state supreme court election between 1946 and 2013. Through an analysis of voting returns, campaign contributions and expenditures, television advertising, and illustrative case studies, he shows that elections have become less politicized than commonly believed. Rather, the changes that have occurred reflect broader trends in American politics, as well as increased involvement of state supreme courts in hot-button issues.