"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
Do the names John Martin, Rick Elmore, & Cheri Beasley sound familiar?
You've probably seen them. In fact, you may have even voted for them in a recent election.
Judges Martin, Elmore, & Beasley are three members of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Most of us couldn't pick them out of a lineup.
And yet, we've placed them into high office.
That's the point.
We probably know far less about the judges we elect than any other officials.
A recently-passed bill in the State Senate would allow judges to affiliate themselves with a particular political party.
We think that's a good thing.
First, it will give those parties a chance to vet their candidates before they're placed on the ballot – in theory, narrowing the field to the best-qualified.
It will also allow us, as voters, to have some broad idea about a judicial candidate's views, and how he or she might decide a particular issue.
But wait? Aren't judges supposed to be impartial?
That would be nice, but it's not reality.
In fact, the President of the United States usually can't wait for an opening on the Supreme Court.
He can then nominate a replacement who reflects his political persuasion.
Allowing judges to to align with a political party is not the ultimate answer.
We still need to read up on the candidates and choose who we really believe is best for the job.
But anything that helps us make an informed decision is a step in the right direction.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
