Judicial Selection at the State Level

A person may become a state-level judge in one of three ways—via a gubernatorial or legislative appointment, as a result of a popular election, or through a merit system. This entry provides an overview of all three of these methods, and explains why selection and appointment procedures have changed over time. The entry also explores whether any one method may be “better” than the others. Findings from empirical research studies are used throughout to inform the discussion. Keywords: court; democracy; ethics; justice; legal history; rule of law; sociology of law