(Neb.) - Nebraska lawyer urges judicial nominating reforms

By: John Thayer Posted at: 05/09/2012 10:37 AM
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A former prosecutor in the Nebraska Attorney General's office says the state should reform its judicial selection process to make it more public and add accountability.
    
Omaha attorney Steve Grasz issued a paper detailing his concerns about the system Tuesday through the nonprofit Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies in Washington D.C.
    
Grasz says too much of the nominating process happens behind closed doors with few checks or balances.
    
In Nebraska's system, nominating commissions pick short lists of judicial candidates to forward to the governor, who chooses the judge. Then voters decide later whether to retain a judge.
    
Grasz suggests requiring commissioners to vote on judicial nominees in public and follow standard election practices.
    
Jane Schoenike, executive director of the state bar, says the current process works well.
     ---

    
     (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Comments: