Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judges Elected by District, Ballot Measure 22 (2002)

Oregon Ballot Measure 22 (2002), the Judicial Accountablity Act of 2002, is an initiated constitutional amendment that divides the state of Oregon into seven districts, based on population, for the purpose of electing one Supreme Court judge per district; five districts for appellate court judges where electors may elect two judges per district, and other provisions.

This measure goes hand in hand with Measure 21, another constitutional amendment proposed in 2002.

Election results

This measure failed at the November 2002 General Election.

Measure 22
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		610,063	50.6%
Yes		595,939	49.4%

Ballot title

Requires Oregon Supreme Court Judges And Court Of Appeals Judges To Be Elected By District

Proponents

Steve Doell, Ted Ferrioli, and Bob Smith

Support

Supporters of the measure believed that dividing into districts would allow judges from different backgrounds and with wide ranges of experiences to be elected and would prevent judges with the same philosophies, from the same region, to dominate the court system. They also believe that having judges responsible to specfic districts will increase accountability on their part because people will be more likely to know exactly who they are and what area they represent. Supporters also argue that all areas of Oregon deserve to be represented and that this measure is about fairness and equality.

Some of those who publicly supported the measure are:

• Oregon Family Farm Association PAC
• Oregon Citizens For A Sound Economy PAC
• Crime Victims United
• Senator Gary George
• Senator Gene Derfler
• Oregonians In Action PAC

Opposition

Some of those who opposed the measure argued that the creation of districts would limit the total amount of judges Oregonians can select. Many believed the measure would prevent voters from electing the most qualified judges possible because they would be restricted by the districts. Others favored that the judicial system was separate from the legislative system where the legislators are elected by district and felt the measure would upset the "checks and balance" in Oregon politics.

Some of those who opposed the measure are:

• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
• American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon
• Oregon Consumer League
• Basic Rights Oregon
• League of Women Voters of Oregon
• Oregon State Council of Senior Citizens

See also

• Oregon Ballot Measure 21 (2002)
• Oregon 2002 ballot measures
• List of Oregon ballot measures
• Oregon 2002 citizen initiatives
• 2002 ballot measures
• Procedures for qualifying an initiative in Oregon
• Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon

Suggest a link

External links

• 2002 Election Results
• 2002 Voter Guide
• 2002 Ballot Measures Details

References

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