Election season is still not over for two circuit judges in a judicial election for Louisiana’s Supreme Court.

In an eight-contestant race for the judgeship, Democratic Circuit Judge John Michael Guidry and Republican Circuit Judge Jeff Hughes won out, and will continue to battle for votes in a runoff Dec. 8.

Hughes ran many television spots stating his conservative-leaning views, a possible bone of contention among those who question the ethics of position-taking judges.

Hughes defended the ads by citing a 2002 Supreme Court ruling. 

The case, “Republican Party of Minnesota v. White,” stated judicial election candidates have the First Amendment right to discuss their views. Political science professor James Garand said Hughes has been under fire for this decision from many who believe judges should be nonpartisan.

Garand disagrees with this idea.

“I believe judges are political actors,” Garand said.

This is not a negative truth, according to top scholars Melinda Gann-Hall and Chris Bonneau, who have conducted extensive research on the subject.

The two believe voters should be able to choose the interpretation different judges will affect on a district, Garand said.

And he agreed, saying even though there is a general perception of judges as neutral entities, this is not the true manner by which voters elect.

Guidry, on the other hand, campaigned by speaking to church groups and promoted his tradition of being a “fair and impartial judge,” he told news outlets.

Garand said the turnout of the Dec. 8 election will depend on who is able to mobilize more voters, but he said he expects Hughes will win.