Summer 2006
Judicial Institute Hosts Voter Education Symposium
BY JOY BEANE
MORE THAN 80 LAWYERS, JUDGES,
educators and civic organization
representatives participated
in a May 17 symposium at the New
York State Judicial Institute that
offered both a state and national perspective
on enhancing voter participation
in judicial elections.
The day’s first plenary session
brought together representatives of
groups currently involved in New York
voter education to share information
and discuss a statewide agenda.
Chaired by Fern Schair, recent president
of the Fund for Modern Courts,
the panel included A. Vincent Buzard,
then-president of the New York State
Bar Association; Nicole Gordon, then-executive
director of the New York City
Campaign Finance Board; Alan Rothstein,
general counsel of the New York
City Bar Association and member of
Citizens Union; and James Sample of
the Brennan Center for Justice of New
York University School of Law. The
panelists led a lively discussion about
ways to improve the availability and
coordination of information to help
voters make informed choices about
judicial candidates, including the use
and impact of voter guides.
The second plenary session brought
the national perspective to the discussion.
Bert Brandenburg, executive
director of Justice at Stake Campaign,
moderated the exchange among Cynthia
Canary of the Illinois Campaign
for Political Reform, Dr. David
Rottman of the National Center for
State Courts and Professor Roy Schotland
of the Georgetown Law Center.
Afternoon workshops focused on
specific aspects of voter education,
including community outreach and
the media. In a voter guide workshop, participants heard about recent efforts
in New York and North Carolina to
prepare on-line and paper guides and
offered insights into the practical,
logistical and ethical issues involved.
Students at Fordham University
School of Law are digesting the workshop
proceedings. Based on participants’
comments on the digests, a
“Plan of Action” will be drafted to
develop leadership on public education
about judicial candidates and
judicial elections.
The Symposium on Enhancing
Voter Participation in Judicial Elections
was a direct response to the recommendation
on voter education by the Commission
to Promote Public Confidence
in Judicial Elections.* The symposium
was sponsored by the Judicial Institute,
the Fund for Modern Courts, the New
York City Bar Association, the New
York County Lawyers’ Association and
the League of Women Voters.
*The commission also made recommendations
relating to candidate selection,
public financing, retention elections,
judicial campaign practice committees
and campaign finance disclosure. The
commission’s reports are on-line at
www.nycourts.gov/reports.
Joy Beane is Executive Assistant to
the Dean of the Judicial Institute.
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