Those who believe we should replace the democratic election of state judges with a Secret Selection committee should read The Washington Post’s “Maryland Moment” blog.

Today’s post reveals the nasty politicking that occurs behind the Secret Selection committee’s closed doors. Three members of Maryland’s Judicial Nominating Commission have resigned in protest due to heavy political pressure to appoint the son of the president of Maryland’s State Senate to a district court bench.

Even blogger Alan Greenblatt of Ballot Box, a “merit selection” supporter, had to admit:

“…this just shows, yet again, that an appointment system is no bar to politics playing a role in filling out the judiciary.”