Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-01-07 | Page 4 | Judges Should be Nonpartisan

Judges Should Be Nonpartisan THE other day J. Allen Crockett, elected last fall a judge of the Third judicial district, submitted his resignation as a ward and district dis-trict chairman for the Democratic party preparatory pre-paratory to taking office as judge. Mr. Crockett's action was taken In compliance compli-ance with the stand of the Utah State bar that members of the judiciary should not hold positions po-sitions In political parties. However, In his tter of resignation, Mr. Crockett expressed 1 hts personal disagreement with the stand of the bar. He declared that the bar ruling deprives judges of a political right and discourages participation par-ticipation In one of the most essential functions func-tions In a democracy. , We disagree with Mr. Crockett's stand In this matter. Granted that the bar's position does operate to deprive judges of certain rights of political activity which would naturally be theirs as individuals, still we think it is proper thM Judges should be asked to give up that small privilege for the larger social good of helping to insure that the high office of a judge shall not be sullied by partisanship and political politi-cal considerations. In fact, we would be Inclined to go even further fur-ther and favor complete divorce of the Judiciary Judi-ciary from politics by making the election of Judges nonpartisan. Under our system of party government there is no reason why Judges should be elected under any party label. It serves no useful purpose to have Judges elected elect-ed as Democrats or Republicans. They have no connection with party government. Certainly, Certain-ly, once elected, they should not and generally do not serve as Democrats or Republicans. They are In office nonpartisan, and it would be to the best Interest of the public if they were also nonpartisan on the ballot.