By
Alicia Bannon, Cathleen Lisk, and Peter Hardin
With
Douglas Keith, Laila Robbins, Eric Velasco, Denise Roth Barber, and Linda Casey
Brennan Center for Justice
at New York University School of Law
National Institute on Money and State Politics
THE
POLITICS
OF
JUDICIALELECTIONS
201516
Who Pays for Judicial Races?
Introduction
1
Chapter One:
Supreme Court Election Spending Reaches New Heights 4
Spending Overview: - Supreme Court Election Cycle Notable Trends: Secret Money and Record Outside Spending Profiled Races: What Factors Contribute to High-Cost Elections? The Bigger Picture: Big Money Races Leave A Mark On A Majority of Elected Courts State Courts as Political Targets
Chapter Two:
A Closer Look at Interest Groups 21
Overview The Transparency Problem Wisconsin’s Weak Recusal Standards Undermine Fair Courts The Major Players A Parallel Problem: Dark Money and Judicial Nominations
CONTENTS
Chapter 3:
Television Ads and the Politicization of Supreme Court Races 32
Overview A More Pervasive Negative Tone Ad Themes Ad Spotlight
Conclusion
40
Appendix
42
IV
CONTENTS