Regulating Judicial Elections

'Regulating Judicial Elections makes outstanding contributions to the scientific literature and the intense debate about electing judges in at least two ways: 1) by providing expertly drawn empirical evidence about the sometimes surprising effects of codes of judicial conduct on fundamental features of state supreme court elections, and 2) by advancing a more sophisticated and nuanced understanding of the traditional normative frames of judicial independence and accountability, including the potential for accountability to promote the rule of law. This exceptionally well crafted volume is a must-read for political scientists, legal scholars, and practitioners interested in elections and campaigns, judicial selection, and the impact of formal rules on practical politics.' - Melinda Gann Hall, Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, Author of Attacking Judges: How Campaign Advertising Influences State Supreme Court Elections 'Peters examines an important-and understudied-topic: the effect of state codes of conduct on judicial elections. Through impressive data collection and persuasive analysis, this book demonstrates that the rules designed to regulate how judges campaign do have some effects, both on the nature of the campaigns and electoral outcomes. This important book is likely to be influential among both scholars and policymakers.' - Chris W. Bonneau, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh