An editorial in The Capital Times – Wisconsin’s “progressive” daily – blasts proposals to have a secret panel of lawyers (instead of voters) decide who sits on state benches. Their most withering comments were trained on former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who has jumped into the fray by proposing that Wisconsin abolish the democratic election of judges. Money quote:

Under the “merit selection” system that O’Connor supports, the same voters who select presidents, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, county executives, supervisors, mayors, village presidents, town chairs, alders, clerks and school board members are deemed to be too ignorant, too ideological or too irresponsible to select judges.  

While we disagree with the public financing plan supported by The Capital Times, we wish more “progressives” would stand up for the rights of Wisconsin voters.