Texas is a state that elects its judges, so political affiliation and money can have a significant impact on the outcome.
Wallace Jefferson (pictured), Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, recently said: "When a judge’s victory is based on party over principle, money over merit, cynicism over the rule of law, voters lose." He favors "a system for judges that has two primary components. Judges
should achieve office by merit rather than whim, and voters should hold
judges accountable, based on their records, through subsequent
retention elections."
His remarks are part of this editorial, which appeared in the Houston Chronicle two days ago.