Question

QUESTION FOUR: Should the Supreme Court be elected?

Answer 1

Supreme Court judges in the USA are recommended by the president of the country and passed by the Senate. In a time of an already politically governed economy, over-influence of the political system in the judiciary leads to a pessimist environment for the citizens. One of the major functions of judiciary of any country is to ensure fairness of its citizens in accordance with the constitution. Political influence in itself objects this very concept- it means centralisation of power instead of decentralisation.

This is precisely the reason we as a people cannot trust the government - who would hold it accountable if something was to go wrong? The people in power are being let go off easy. The judiciary could be and should be above politics - which it is not as of now.

One could argue that recommendation of Supreme Court by the president is consistent with democracy, but why not eliminate the middle man and elect Supreme Court? An elected SC is likely to be more diverse and fair - representing equally the rights of different groups of people.