Professor Thomas McClure in the Department of Politics and Government published an article titled “Do Campaign Contributions Create Public Perception of Judicial Bias?” in Judicature.
Professor Thomas McClure
This study explores the relationship between impartiality ratings of Illinois trial judges and campaign contributions.
Regression analysis revealed that judicial candidates’ impartiality scores declined as (1) amount of overall campaign contributions increased; (2) the number of reported campaign contributors enlarged; and (3) the number of large campaign contributors grew. Similarly, judicial candidates’ impartiality scores reduced as (a) the amount of attorney contributions increased; (b) the number of reported attorney contributors enlarged; and (c) the number of large attorney contributors grew.
