Elected judges?

While certain newspapers, such as the Daily Mail, may rant about “unelected judges” making rulings on human rights, the EU and other controversial subjects, the UK should hang onto its system of appointing not electing judges at all costs, according to Peter Thompson QC, general editor of Civil Court Practice (The Green Book). Writing in NLJ this week, Thompson points out how the US Supreme Court was divided by party allegiances over the Bush/Gore hanging chad case in 2000. He writes: “There must surely be some concern that the judge will not want to let down the political party which got him, or her, elected.”