Spitzer seeks power to appoint more judges

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Many state and county judges would no longer be elected under a constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to establish a merit-based system of selecting the judiciary.

Spitzer, a former state attorney general, wants to replace the troubled conventions where judicial candidates are put on the ballot -- and which federal courts have said are unconstitutional -- with statewide and regional nominating commissions not tied to political parties.

The commissions would evaluate candidates on their character and qualifications rather than party loyalty and financial resources to mount a campaign. Final appointments would be made by the governor as he does with judges on the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.

"Our goal is to remove the influence of money and politics on our state court system," Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson said Friday.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stspit0428,0,301257.story?coll=ny-top-headlines