MY state

[Lowpro]

I wanted to jump on Bikewar's idea and ANTpogo reminded me about this little situation we have.

I don't know if you guys remember Roy Moore, the "Ten Commandments Judge". Believe it or else, he's running for Chief Justice! Apparently when the court told him to remove the Ten Commandments monument from the front of the Alabama Supreme Court and Roy Moore said "That sounds like a great idea, but **** you" (paraphrased) that didn't stop him from thinking bigger.

So, how could this guy possibly ever compete in a race for Chief Justice? Well, it's a really funny story. You see he's running against this guy

Well, he was running against that guy...you see...this happened.

For those who don't want to follow links, Roy Moore is an asshat but he was running up against a batcrap insane asshat. And well, time makes fools of us all, and Lyon's time came up.

Which means we literally are STUCK with Roy Moore. It's not that there is a reasonable decision to vote for or elect Roy Moore, it's that there is no alternative to it. He'll win because no one else can.

My state...is stupid. It's so goddamn stupid.

 

[Puppycow]

Is it still possible that the Democratic party could field a reasonable replacement candidate?

ETA: it seems that it is:

The party will take nominations for a replacement candidate from Monday morning through noon Wednesday. If no one is nominated, the party will not field a candidate.

If more than one person is nominated, the State Democratic Executive Committee will vote on the nominee between Aug. 22 and Aug. 27.

"It is disappointing that this close to the election process we find ourselves without a candidate for chief justice but are hopeful that we will soon have a truly qualified candidate and future chief justice," Kennedy said in a statement.

That's good. A choice between Moore and Lyon is really no choice at all. They both seem like equally terrible choices regardless of party affiliation.

 

[Lowpro]

Well the reason Lyon got in the ballot first is because he was the ONLY applicant who actually made the Democratic qualifications.

The ONLY one.

 

[Tricky]

It really won't make any difference. Like it or not, Moore is very well liked by much of my home state. That's just Alabama politics. I spent much of my young life trying to get people to believe that George Wallace was a bad man, but with almost no success, at least, not until many years later. Lots of people still think he was great.

While I love my home state very much, they have the most backward, ignorant politics of any place short of... my current state. (What can I say? I hate cold weather.)

I will say though that my college is different. The University of Alabama is a liberal oasis in a desert of stupidity. When I was in school there (in the 70s) they elected a black homecoming queen just to see George Wallace squirm when he was expected to kiss her. (He never did.) Bear Bryant kicked George Wallace's white ass out of the schoolhouse door where he was standing.

 

[Puppycow]

Silly questions: is it normal for Chief Justice to be an elected position?

Are all members of the State Supreme Court directly elected?

Is it like this in other states?

 

[Tricky]

Silly questions: is it normal for Chief Justice to be an elected position?

Are all members of the State Supreme Court directly elected?

Is it like this in other states?

Many states, especially in the south. Texas elects judges too, including Supreme Court judges.

 

[mortimer]

Many states, especially in the south. Texas elects judges too, including Supreme Court judges.

Seven states elect Supreme Court judges. Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

If you add in all trial courts, another state (Tennessee) is added.

States that have elected probate court judges are Connecticut, Maine, South Carolina, and Vermont.

There are also elected judges in the following states: Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, and New York.

I think it's unfair to categorize this as a problem that is especially prevalent in the South.

From here.

 

[WildCat]

My state...is stupid. It's so goddamn stupid.

But it amuses the rest of us.

 

[Tricky]

Seven states elect Supreme Court judges. Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

If you add in all trial courts, another state (Tennessee) is added.

States that have elected probate court judges are Connecticut, Maine, South Carolina, and Vermont.

There are also elected judges in the following states: Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, and New York.

I think it's unfair to categorize this as a problem that is especially prevalent in the South.

From here.

I stand corrected.

But honestly, I don't necessarily call it a "problem". Appointing judges is just as subject to abuse as electing them, and you have the additional problem that in some places, you can never remove them short of impeachment. I'm not sure what the best way would be.

 

[WildCat]

Silly questions: is it normal for Chief Justice to be an elected position?

Are all members of the State Supreme Court directly elected?

Is it like this in other states?

Elected in Illinois.

eta: I see this is already answered.