Study finds judges selected on merit receive less discipline

A new study by the American Judicator Society found judges selected on a merit-based system are disciplined less often than elected judges,  and merit-based justices that are disciplined receive a more lenient punishment.

According to the study, of the 866 judges that were disciplined, only 28.1 percent were selected based on their merit. The largest percentage of disciplined merit-selected judges was found in Minnesota with 77.3 percent.  

However, of the 17 merit-selected judges in Minnesota that did receive discipline, only three received anything stronger than a reprimand. This percentage was echoed in each state,  with 77 percent of all disciplined merit-selected judges received a reprimand while 23 percent received a more severe punishment.

On the other hand, elected officials who were disciplined received much stronger punishments overall. Only 51 percent received a reprimand while around 49 percent received a more severe punishment.

You can learn more about merit selection from the JAS issues page on the topic.

Read the full study here.