In a recent report it expressed concern over the increasing significance of money pumped into such campaigns by lawyers. It noted that more than two-thirds of the money going into campaigns for seats on the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals is coming from lawyers and their families.
The implication is that contributing lawyers might receive special treatment from the judges whose campaigns they helped finance. It is an understandable concern, especially in an era in which lawyers — as a group — do not enjoy the highest ratings in public confidence.
But is that concern really justified? Indeed, are lawyers deserving of the “shyster” image attributed to the profession by some critics? One might randomly ask the question of passersby: Do you trust lawyers? There’s a good chance the response might be “no” or a qualified variation. But ask the same individuals: Do you trust your lawyer? The response in almost every instance probably will be one of complete confidence.
Are there some bad apples in the barrel? Of course, just as there are unscrupulous business tycoons, and public officeholders and ministers – and journalists. But in our own community — and ours is not unlike others across the state and nation — lawyers, with rare exceptions, have been leaders in civic, church and public service endeavors. Yes, and in political affairs. Because they want to coddle political favors? No, because they have a genuine interest in good government.
The same applies to their interest in who goes on the benches of the District Courts, the Superior Courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Lawyers know the lawyers who aspire to the bench. They know their strengths and weaknesses and their philosophies.
They also know — as well if not better than the rest of us — the importance of electing the most qualified among them to judgeships. And they are willing to invest their contributions to that end — not in the interest of coddling special favors, but in the interest of assuring the best possible judicial system.
For this, the public should be grateful rather than suspicious.
