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.
The practice of judges taking stances has been seen as a possible ethical complication.
Political science professor James Garand said Hughes has been under fire for this decision from many who believe judges should be nonpartisan and make decisions about cases based on black-and-white facts.
Garand disagrees with this idea.
“I believe judges are political actors,” Garand said.
He said it is no surprise when appointees of President Barack Obama rule on the liberal side of a case, and that is no different in the lower courts.
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.
There were more Republicans running in the race than Democrats, and Garand said he was surprised Hughes was the one who pulled through for his party.
He attributed the success to Hughes’ television spots.
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.
