By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – The president of the American Bar Association says enormously expensive judicial races, like this year's $5 million slugfest for a Supreme Court seat in his home state of Alabama, threaten the public's confidence in the judicial system.
ABA President Thomas Wells Jr. of Birmingham says more was spent on that race than was spent on providing access to the courts for people of limited means, calling that "obscene."
At his request, the bar association is urging judicial, legislative and executive branch officials from each state to gather in Charlotte, N.C., in May for a summit.
The goal, says Wells, is to collaborate on plans for promoting fair and impartial courts.