Watch a debate over Proposition 137, which deals with judicial retention, at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
The amendment would end term limits for state Supreme Court justices and Superior Court judges, replacing them with terms of good behavior unless decided otherwise by a judicial review commission.
Attorney Kory Langhofer said Prop. 137 would simplify ballots for voters and would keep judges independent by ensuring elections don’t turn into popularity contests based on their past rulings.
"I think giving judges a presumption of lifetime tenure, like the framers of the Constitution did that, I think that works really well," Langhofer said.
But retired attorney Andy Gordon argues the measure would give governors power to appoint judges who would stay on the bench indefinitely without repercussions.
"It silences the voice of the people by taking away the people’s right to vote on which judges to retain and which to remove from office," Gordon said.
