Bad Marion County Judicial Selection Bill Dies

That wretched legislation in response to a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision last year affirming a district court ruling striking down Marion County's judicial election system as unconstitutional thankfully died in the last hours before the circus left town for the year. SB 352 would have replaced the current corrupt party slating process that dictates who becomes a judge in Marion County with a faux merit selection committee predominantly made up of party hacks appointed by state legislative leaders and county chairpersons. Tragically, the Indianapolis Bar Association backed this horrible legislative proposal without bothering to consult its rank-and-file members for feedback on the type of merit selection system members would have supported to ensure a system that truly led to judges being chosen based on merit as opposed to political clout. House Speaker Brian Bosma said the bill died over "minute details" lawmakers were unable to work out. If the bill had been sent to the governor and signed into law, a 14-member commission controlled by four members appointed by the legislative leaders and four members appointed by the Marion Co. Democratic and Republican Party Chairmen would have determined who becomes a judge in Marion County.