Caldarone, Richard P., Brandice Canes-Wrone, and Tom S. Clark. “Partisan Labels and Democratic Accountability: An Analysis of State Supreme Court Abortion Decisions,” 71 Journal of Politics 560 (2009). (Cambridge Journals)

December 20, 2011

This empirical study of state high court abortion decisions between 1980 and 2006 concludes that judges chosen by nonpartisan election are more likely to issue popular decisions than judges chosen by partisan elections.

  • Judicial Election

    Judges are elected by popular vote.

  • Democratic Appointment

    Judges are appointed directly by a democratic body, or appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of some democratic body.