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Supreme Weekly: A glimpse at next year's Supreme Court elections
This article may not adhere to Ballotpedia’s current neutrality policies.
June 23, 2011
by: Katy Farrell
Soon enough, justices become incumbents, hopefuls become candidates, and everywhere we go we start seeing banners and advertisements. As election season approaches, candidates for the 2012 elections have started announcing bids for the state Supreme Courts. Likewise, incumbents are declaring their intentions to run again or step down. This week we're going to look forward with a compilation of what's to come in the 2012 elections.
Partisan/Nonpartisan elections
Alabama
Alabama will have five seats up for election next year: Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Thomas Woodall, Lyn Stuart, Glenn Murdock and the court's newest member, James Allen Main.
Last year's three races in the Supreme Court elections cost a combined $4,241,091.[1] With historically hotly contested races, Alabama will certainly be a state to watch next year.
Arkansas
Justice Jim Gunter has announced that he will retire from the court at the end of his current term, leaving the seat open for election. As soon as legally allowed, Raymond Abramson, judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals declared his candidacy.[2] He is the only candidate to declare so far.
Georgia
Like Alabama, multiple races for the Georgia Supreme Court could change the composition of the body next year. The four justices up for re-election are: Chief Judge Carol Hunstein, George Carley, Hugh Thompson and Harold Melton. Also of note in Georgia next year is the new schedule for judicial elections. Unlike previous years, judges will compete in the primary election, and runoff if needed, only. All judicial races will be determined by August.[3]
Idaho
In Idaho, Chief Justice Daniel Eismann will be up for re-election. He was first elected to the court in 2000 and subsequently in 2006.
Kentucky
Next year, Will T. Scott will need to run for re-election to the Kentucky Supreme Court. He was first elected to the court in 2004.
Louisiana
Only one term will expire on the Louisiana Supreme Court next year, that of John L. Weimer. Though Louisiana has contested judicial races, often times justices run unopposed for re-election.
Michigan
Next year's Michigan Supreme Court elections will fill three seats on the court. If they seek re-election, Marilyn Kelly and Stephen Markman will compete in the third election for their respective seats. Newest justice Brian Zahra will face his first election following his 2011 appointment. Though he has not formerly announced a bid for the seat, Zahra last week spoke to the Western Thumb Tea Party to explain his judicial philosophy, in what some considered a campaign speech.[4]
Minnesota
Two terms expire on the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2012. David Stras will face his first election following his 2010 appointment by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Barry Anderson will need to run for re-election next year if he would like to continue serving.
Mississippi
Next year, the terms of four justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court will expire.
- Chief Justice William Waller, District 1, Place 1
- George Carlson, District 3, Place 3
- Mike Randolph, District 2, Place 3
- Leslie King, District 1, Place 2
Montana
Two terms on the Montana Supreme Court expire in 2012. One, that of James Nelson (Montana), will be an open seat, since Nelson has announced he will not run for re-election. [[Brian Morris|Brian Morris]] has not announced his intention when his term expires in 2012.
North Carolina
The term of Paul Martin Newby will expire in 2012. He has already announced his re-election campaign. No opponents have yet declared for the election.
North Dakota
The North Dakota Supreme Court will see one election this year, the term of Daniel Crothers is expiring.
Ohio
In Ohio, three seats will be up for election on the Supreme Court: Terrence O'Donnell, Robert Cupp and Yvette McGee Brown. O'Donnell has served on the court since 2003 and has won re-election once. Brown was appointed by former Governor Ted Strickland following the outcome of the 2010 election. Two candidates are already vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Brown, Sharon L. Kennedy and Judith French. Brown is the only Democrat serving on the court.
Oregon
Three terms expire in 2013 on the Oregon Supreme Court. Chief Justice Paul De Muniz, Robert Durham and Virginia Linder will be up for re-election.
Texas
Six high court seats in Texas will be decided by voters in 2012.
On the Texas Supreme Court:
- Don Willett, Place 2
- David Medina, Place 4
- Nathan Hecht, Place 6
On the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals:
- Sharon Keller, Place 1
- Barbara Hervey, Place 7
- Elsa Alcala, Place 8
Washington
Three terms expire on the Washington Supreme Court next year, those of Gerry Alexander, Tom Chambers and Susan Owens.
West Virginia
Robin Jean Davis has already announced her intention to seek re-election in 2012.[5] Davis was first elected to the court in 1996. Also available will be the seat currently held by Thomas E. McHugh. He said that he would not run for re-election at the end of his term.[6]
Retention elections
Alaska
In Alaska, four justices will stand for retention in the 2012 election: Walter Carpeneti, Morgan Christen, Craig Stowers and Daniel Winfree. This is subject to change, since Christen has been nominated for the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is awaiting confirmation.
Arizona
Two terms expire on the Arizona Supreme Court next year. Andrew Hurwitz and Robert Brutinel will stand for retention. Hurwtiz will face his second retention vote, while Brutinel will experience his first since his 2010 appointment by Governor Jan Brewer.
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Colorado
Next year, Nathan Coats is eligible for his second retention election, while Monica Márquez will face her first election since appointment in 2010.
Florida
Three justices on the Florida Supreme Court will run for retention in 2012: Chief Justice Peggy Quince, R. Fred Lewis and Barbara Pariente. The conservative group Citizen2Citizen has started a campaign to remove these justices from the bench, not unlike the conservative group that did the same in Iowa in 2010. In Florida, the group takes issues with a 2010 Supreme Court decision that removed a statewide vote on healthcare reform from the ballot.[7]
Illinois
Mary Jane Theis will stand for her first retention election since her appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010.
Indiana
Steven David will face his first retention election on court following his 2010 appointment by Governor Mitch Daniels.
Iowa
After a surprising 2010 election, Iowa Supreme Court justices will again be up for retention en masse. Four of the seven justices of the court will stand for retention in 2012. First, the three justices that were appointed to succeed those ousted in 2010 all must run for their seats: Bruce B. Zager, Edward Mansfield and Thomas Waterman. In addition, David Wiggins, who was appointed to the court by Governor Vilsack in 2003 will face his second retention election.
Kansas
Only one justice on the Kansas Supreme Court will be up for retention in 2012, Eric Rosen. He was appointed to the court in 2005.
Nebraska
Three justices will face retention on the Nebraska Supreme Court in 2012: Michael Heavican, Kenneth Stephan and Michael McCormack. So far, none have announced their resignation from the court.
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Nevada
Three justices will stand for retention in 2012: Michael Cherry, Nancy Saitta and Chief Justice Michael Douglas.
New Mexico
Richard Bosson's term will expire in 2012 and he will need to run for retention if he wants to stay on the court. He was retained previously in 2004, after two years in office.
Oklahoma
There will be seven terms expiring on Oklahoma's two high courts.
On the Oklahoma Supreme Court:
- James Edmondson, appointed in 2003
- Yvonne Kauger, appointed in 1984
- Douglas L. Combs, appointed in 2010
- Noma D. Gurich, appointed in 2011
On the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals:
- Arlene Johnson, appointed in 2005
- David B. Lewis, appointed in 2005
- Carlene Clancy Smith, appointed in 2010
Wyoming
James Burke will be eligible to stand for retention to the Wyoming Supreme Court prior to the expiration of his term.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Supreme Weekly: The cost of running for a Supreme Court
- ↑ Arkansas News, "Election quirk puts off judicial announcements," May 16, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Neighbor Newspapers, "2012 Georgia Judicial Elections big," June 1, 2011
- ↑ The Saginaw News, "A line in the sand: Michigan Supreme Court Justice defines 'activist' judges from 'rule of law' judges in appearance before Tea Party," June 17, 2011
- ↑ The State Journal, "Justice Will Run for Re-Election in 2012," June 1, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ West Virginia Record, "2012 SupCo race could get interesting," June 21, 2011
- ↑ TampaBay.com, "Groups takes aim at state Supreme Court justices," June 13, 2011
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