Appointing or electing judges without prior judicial training is a common practice in the United States, despite state courts handling approximately 98.5% of America’s legal disputes. This tradition is now being questioned due to the subsequent challenges that these judges face as they step into their roles.
In a detailed exploration, Law360 narrates the story of a probate court judge in Northwest Georgia. Struggles ensued for this judge from the very start of their tenure, even before presiding over a case. As the judge attempted to navigate their first months in the job, nearly all the employees who had served under the preceding judge quit, taking with them their collective institutional knowledge. You can read the complete account here.
These kinds of experiences certainly underline the necessity for some reform in the way judges are prepared for their roles. As the legal community at large explores efforts to improve this, the experiences and challenges of such judges come into sharper focus. With discussions on the topic gaining momentum, it is essential that these experiences be interrogated and the system of appointment and election of judges be reevaluated.