The House Governmental Affairs Committee approves a bill that would remove from a voting ballot the party affiliation of a candidate running for judge. Marrero Representative Kyle Green said party should not matter because judges should be non-partisan.
“It doesn’t serve the public any value and keeping a judicial candidate’s affiliation, whether it be Libertarian, Grand Party, Republican, Democratic candidate, or even no party, on the ballot,” said Green.
The bill was approved by the committee on a nine to three vote. A few Republican lawmakers opposed, including Haughton Representative Dodie Horton.
“It just will deny the public the knowledge of the philosophy that the person they are voting for judge adheres to,” said Horton.
Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges said voters deserve to know who they are voting for.
“So, when you take the time and to get in your car to drive to the polls, it is for a reason because you want to elect the candidate of your choice, so how are they going to know who they’re choosing if there’s no ‘D’ or ‘R’ or independent,” said Hodges.
House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski, who is an attorney by occupation, said judges support this legislation…
“Judges on either side of the aisle have told me we need to do this. Judges I respect and judges I trust, very conservative judges, some more liberal judges,” said Stefanski.
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion
Comments