When some voters consider their ballot for the Nov. 5 presidential election, they will see down-ballot judicial elections—but only in a handful of states and localities. Local judges are elected in partisan or nonpartisan races, or, more often than not, simply appointed by state legislatures or governors.
Given the critical role that judges play in the criminal justice system, which disproportionately entraps poor people and people of color, activists are calling for the democratization of judicial selection.
Ericka Wiley has worked as a deputy public defender for more than 20 years in Los Angeles, representing clients in criminal cases with charges ranging from misdemeanors to capital crimes. She is currently running for L.A. County superior judge. She spoke with YES! Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on YES! Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about judicial elections, ending mass incarceration, and the prosecutor-to-judge pipeline.