This article examines the importance of formal judicial selection systems for understanding the outcomes of judicial recruitment. Data collected concerning appointments of the Carter administration demonstrate that selection processes per se made little difference in the nature of the appointments made. The data also suggest that the identity of the political actor primarily responsible for generating the names of judgeship candidates may be a more important concern for understanding selection outcomes than formal selection processes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ashman, A. and J. Alfini (1974) The Key to Judicial Merit Selection: The Nominating Process. Chicago: American Judicature Society.
2.
Atkins, B. and H. Glick (1974) "Formal judicial recruitment and state supreme court decisions." Amer. Politics Q.2 (October): 427-449.
3.
Bell, G. (1978) "Merit selection and political reality." Washington Post (February 25): A15.
4.
Berkson, L. and S. Carbon (1980) The United States Circuit Judge Nominating Commission: Its Members, Procedures and Candidates. Chicago: American Judicature Society.
5.
Canon, B. (1972) "The impact of formal selection processes on the characteristics of judges reconsidered." Law and Society Rev.6 (May): 579-593.
6.
Cohodas, N. (1981) "Reagan slow in appointing women, blacks, hispanics to federal judiciary seats." Congressional Q.39 (December 26): 2559-2561.
7.
Fowler, W.G. (1983) "A comparison of initial recommendation procedures: judicial selection under Reagan and Carter." Yale Law and Policy Rev.1.
8.
Flango, V. and C. Ducat (1979) "What difference does method of judicial selection make?" Justice System J.5: 25-43.
9.
Goldman, S. (1983) "Reagan's judicial appointments at midterm: shaping the bench in his own image." Judicature66 (March): 334-347.
Jacob, H. (1964) "The effect of institutional differences in the recuitment process: the case of state judges. J. of Public Law13: 104-119.
12.
Neff, A. 91981) The United States District Judge Nominating Commissions: Their Members, Procedures and Candidates. Chicago: American Judicature Society.
13.
Peltason, J. (1955) Federal Courts in the Political Process. New York: Random House.
14.
Slotnick, E. (1980) "Reforms in judicial selection: will they affect the Senate's role?" Judicature64 (August/September): 60-73, 114-131.
15.
Time (1977) "Judging Carter's judges: merit along party lines. (December): 76.
16.
Watson, R. and R. Downing (1969) The Politics of the Bench and Bar. New York: John Wiley.