Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Law

A Comparative Analysis Of Judicial Selection Methods In Tennessee And Kentucky: Appointed V. Elected, Eileen M. Forsythe Dec 2011

A Comparative Analysis Of Judicial Selection Methods In Tennessee And Kentucky: Appointed V. Elected, Eileen M. Forsythe

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis explores the relationship between judicial independence and judicial accountability by investigating the question of how selection methods shape state appellate court decisions. I conducted a case study using the states of Tennessee and Kentucky and the judicial selection methods of appointments and elections. I then conducted a sample of cases and did a comparative quantitative analysis of reversal records between the two states in the hopes of finding a statistical difference from my research. The debate between judicial selection methods is not a simple question and this thesis alone cannot provide the answer, but I hope that my …


Case-By-Case Adjudication And The Path Of The Law, Anthony Niblett Mar 2011

Case-By-Case Adjudication And The Path Of The Law, Anthony Niblett

Anthony Niblett

How can a centrist president or governor best influence law through the appointment of judges? Imagine that there are two sitting judges and one of the positions becomes vacant. The other, veteran judge is on the extreme right, from the perspective of the executive, and the executive prefers centrist outcomes. Should the executive appoint a centrist or, instead, appoint a left-wing extremist who might offset the sitting, right-wing judge? Conventional wisdom holds that judges counteract, or balance, one another; that is, a left-wing appointment carries the best hope offsetting the existing, right-wing judge. Following this intuition, a moderate appointment would …