Halverson expresses antipathy toward judicial merit selection
Today, in “Don't show her 'Missouri Plan,'” the Sun reports on Judge Elizabeth Halverson’s interaction with last week’s CCBA monthly luncheon speaker Doreen Dodson, chair woman of the American Bar Association 's Judicial Independence Committee.
I was present at the CCBA luncheon and thought Judge Halverson’s participation added greatly to the presention. Before taking questions, Ms. Dodson specifically addressed strategies to deal with hostile questions. Judge Halverson provided her with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate those skills.
Lest there be any doubt, I am an unabashed supporter of merit selection for judges. The plan approved by the Nevada Legislature this past session is, save for the 55% retention vote requirement, very like that used with much success in Colorado for some decades. The Nevada version, like Colorado’s, includes performance reviews by a Judicial Performance Commission, which insures voters have relevant information available in making a retention decision. I urged the adoption of just such a plan in my October 2006 Communiqué article, “Selecting Judges: Making Informed Choices.” Kudos to the legislature for taking the first step toward helping Nevada’s judges maintain their independence of big money interests.
