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The Two Opposing Effects of Judicial Elections on Legitimacy Perceptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2021

Benjamin Woodson
Benjamin Woodson*
Affiliation:
University of Missouri–Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
*
Benjamin Woodson, Political Science, University of Missouri–Kansas City, 213 Haag Hall, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. Email: woodsonb@umkc.edu
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Abstract

Judicial elections have two opposing effects on legitimacy perceptions for state supreme courts. Elections not only provide a boost to legitimacy through the chance to hold officials accountable but also involve campaign activity that decreases legitimacy perceptions. This article examines these two opposing effects using a nationally representative survey that includes items assessing diffuse support for state supreme courts. It uses multiple indicators to differentiate between states with highly active election systems involving large amounts of campaign activity and states with less active elections systems that involve little campaign activity. The results from the survey show that the legitimacy of elected courts is higher than appointed courts but only in states with little election activity. In states with high amounts of election activity, the legitimacy of elected courts is lower than appointed courts.

Keywords

public opinionjudicial electionsjudicial politicsjudicial selectionelectoral systems
Type
Research Article
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 2017 , pp. 24 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017

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