Report: Campaign spending in state judicial elections more than doubles since last decade

Report: Judicial spending doubles in last decade

A new national report shows campaign fundraising for elections to the nation’s top state courts has doubled to more than $200 million over the last decade.

The report by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law and two other groups also concludes the surge is partly fueled by “super spenders” who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence down-ticket races.

A handful of states have taken small steps toward reforms. Wisconsin lawmakers enacted public financing for judicial races, and the Michigan Supreme Court also adopted tough new recusal rules.

Lead author James Sample says they are just initial steps, not sweeping overhauls aimed at ending political pressure in judicial races.