2008 State Supreme Court Elections
From Judgepedia
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There are 338 state Supreme Court justices in the United States. The paths taken by each justice to a seat on a state Supreme Court vary significantly from state-to-state.
- Eight states choose their Supreme Court justices in partisan elections. This includes nine courts, since Texas has two courts of last resort, one for civil and one for criminal matters, and the members of both of these courts are chosen in partisan elections.
- Fifteen states chose justices in non-partisan elections.
- Of the states that use a commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection, most hold a retention election at some point for their justices.
- Some states always use gubernatorial appointment of judges to fill their Supreme Courts, but even in states that have other primary methods of choosing justices, the governor can play a key role when a vacancy occurs between elections.
- Two states use the legislative election of judges including, in 2008, South Carolina.
Transitions in 2008
- Twenty-seven state supreme court seats will be contested (in either partisan or non-partisan elections) on November 4, 2008.
- Two state supreme court electoral contests were concluded in April and May.
- Twenty justices face retention elections.
- In other states, justices are being appointed by commissions, governors or state legislatures, depending on the rules in states with vacancies.
- See Important dates and deadlines, 2008.
November 4th results
Contested seats, election concluded
| Court | Incumbent | Challenger | Details | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Supreme Court | Joel Horton | John Bradbury | Idaho Supreme Court elections | Voters chose Horton, May 27, 2008 |
| Louisiana Supreme Court | Catherine Kimball | Jefferson Hughes | Louisiana Supreme Court elections | Voters chose Kimball by 65% on October 4 |
| Wisconsin Supreme Court | Butler | Gableman | Wisconsin Supreme Court election | Voters chose Gableman, April 1, 2008 |
| Washington Supreme Court | Johnson | Beecher, Vulliet | Washington Supreme Court election | Voters chose Johnson during the August 19, 2008 primary; he advances uncontested to the general election and will presumably serve another term |
| Washington Supreme Court | Fairhurst | Bond | Washington Supreme Court election | Voters chose Fairhurst during the August 19, 2008 primary; she advances uncontested to the general election and will presumably serve another term |
State justices facing retention votes
Retention elections are frequently thought of in connection with the commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection. However, some states that choose state Supreme Court justices for their initial term in office using partisan or non-partisan elections, use a retention election for subsequent terms on the court.
State justices appointed in 2008
| Court | Appointer | Why vacant? | Nominees | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Supreme Court | Governor | Raoul G. Cantero is stepping down effective September 6. | - | - |
| Florida Supreme Court | Governor | Kenneth B. Bell is stepping down effective October 8. | - | - |
| Iowa Supreme Court | Governor | Jerry L. Larson retired May 17, 2008 | Connie Alt, David Baker, Thomas Waterman | Gov. Culver appointed David Baker on April 4, 2008 |
| Circuit 7, Maryland Court of Appeals | Governor | Irma Raker has reached the mandatory retirement age. | - | - |
| Circuit 2, Maryland Court of Appeals | Governor | Vacancy | - | - |
| Minnesota Supreme Court | Governor | Chief Justice Russell Anderson retired in June | Eric Magnuson | Magnuson was appointed in March 2008 to replace Anderson in June |
| New York Court of Appeals | Commission/political | Chief Judge Judith Kaye reaches mandatory retirement this year | - | |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Governor | Chief Justice Ralph Cappy retired January 7, 2008. | James Gardner Colins | Interim appointment is pending; appointee will fill vacancy until 2009 |
Supreme Court judges chosen by state legislature
| Court | Retiring judge | New judge | Date of election | Date sworn in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Supreme Court | James E. Moore | John Kittredge | February 2008 | June 18, 2008 |
State justices running in uncontested elections
See also
- Important dates and deadlines, 2008
- 2008 State Appellate Court Elections
- 2008 State Circuit Court Elections
- 2008 State District Court Elections
- Judicial selection in the States: Courts of Last Resort
- Judicial selection in the States
- Adam Smith Foundation
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Race (2008)
- Justice at Stake
External links
- State Finance Director Jim Main says he won't run for the Alabama Supreme Court this year
- Special interests pour millions into judicial races
- Stop lawsuit abuse
References
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