Groups urge high court to grant Harman appeal
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Paul J. Nyden, ABA
Source: 08/05/2008
Date: Charleston Gazette
A Charleston Gazette article cites the American Bar Association's brief, noting that "[t]he ABA argues judicial elections and campaign donations do not inherently violate the "due process" rights of citizens," yet, "at some contribution level, fundamental fairness concerns of actual or apparent bias are triggered." In its brief, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law says, "this case provides the [Supreme] Court with a clean vehicle to address an important constitutional issue and to prevent the facts of this case from becoming harbingers of a new and disturbing form." Between 2000 and 2006, "state Supreme Court candidates across the United States raised $157 million in contributions, nearly double the contributions raised between 1992 and 1998."