Supreme Court candidate Tom Edwards’s campaign sent out a press release yesterday detailing the launch of a website they set up as a “resource for voters in the upcoming Alabama Supreme Court elections.” From the release:
The site is a project of the Edwards Campaign to collect all of the unbiased newspaper accounts of the Court over the last several years. The site is broken down into 5 areas that underpin the perception problem that it now faces: Money, Ethics, Investigations, Special Interests and Recusals. Articles will be added daily to each section so people can come back and keep apprised of the latest news affecting the Court.
“When you look at the amount of information that is available, and the negativity of it all,” said Tom Edwards. “How can you not ask the question, Is Alabama Justice for Sale?”
Yes, Edwards is running for office and, yes, anything his campaign makes should be seen as assisting his efforts to defeat sitting Associate Justice Mike Bolin. Still, the website just doesn’t feel all that sneaky. Right at the top of the front page, it says “Brought to you and paid for by the Tom Edwards for Justice campaign.” And clicking through the tabs, it is a pretty straight-forward collection of news articles — just I’m sure all the articles inform Edwards’s campaign platform. Doesn’t make them less news.
The “Money” section, however, does link only to Bolin’s and Edwards’s financial disclosures — Bolin is out-raising Edwards at least 10:1 — even though two other seats on the high court are in contention. But even those links are after links to articles about the well-regarded Brennan Center for Justice study released this summer on the rising cost of judicial races nationwide. That study found Alabama spent $43.6 million on high court elections from 2000-2009 (Ohio came in a distant second, spending $29.8 million). And they’re keeping track of it still.
Judicial races are usually different from legislative races. Certainly at the district- and circuit-court levels, they’re almost overlooked unless you’re a lawyer, a friend of the candidate or have been ruled against recently. Up at “the Supremes,” though, it’s a different ballgame where the tv ads and attack-tics sometimes appear little different from other statewide races. I’m sure you have your own opinions about that, I just hope we continue the conversation. And as a part of that conversation, I think Edwards’s “Justice for Sale” website serves a purpose.
Disclaimer: I don’t think I’ve even met Edwards or Bolin. No dog in this fight.
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