7 Criminal Justice Positions To Know On Your Ballot
As protests continue in response to Black Lives Matter and the role of policing, voters also have the chance this November to directly affect will make decisions around law enforcement and criminal justice.
From top to bottom of the ballot, voters will select candidates who will directly decide how laws are enforced in their locality.
Before you vote on November 3rd, here’s a quick rundown of seven positions that may appear on your ballot and will have a direct impact on criminal justice:
1. President of the United States/ U.S. Attorney General
Most people who plan to vote on Election Day are already committed to marking a box at the very top of the ballot. The executive branch of the United States has numerous powers, but as far as law enforcement goes, it contains the Justice Department, which enforces federal laws.
Although it is distinct and independent from the Office of the President, the Justice Department is led by the US Attorney General, who is appointed by the President. The policies that emanate from the Justice Department often have direct effects on communities. Under the Obama administration, for example, the Justice Department enforced consent decrees with police departments across the country, a practice that is no longer in effect.
The current Attorney General, William Barr, is likely to continue as the top law enforcement official in the land if President Donald Trump is reelected in the fall.
2. State Attorney General
As on the federal level, the State Attorney General of each of the 50 states is the top legal officer and legal advisor in that state. The State Attorney General is an elected office in all but 7 states.
The State Attorney General oversees lawyers and investigators who enforce laws around criminal offenses, business practices, civil rights, and the environment.
In 2020, 10 states will hold elections for Attorney General: Indiana, MIssouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
3. District Attorney
The District Attorney (sometimes called State’s Attorney or DA) is the chief legal representative of a smaller governmental area, usually a county. They, along with their staff, are responsible for reviewing police arrest reports and deciding whether or not to bring criminal charges and prosecute the case in court. If they choose to move forward, a DA acts as a representative of the government and attempts to persuade a judge or jury to convict the defendant.
In the US in 2020, there will be over 400 District Attorney elections, over 700 county attorney elections, and over 60 City Attorney elections.
4. Mayor/ Police Chief
In most cities across the country, the Police Chief is the appointee of the Mayor or other elected official. While voters are not able to directly choose their Chief of Police, they do have the ability to choose and influence the individual making the decision of who to appoint by using their vote.
Some of the largest cities in the US to hold mayoral races this November include Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; Honolulu, HI; Portland, OR; Baltimore, MD and Virginia Beach, VA.
5. Sheriff
Sheriffs act as the chief law enforcement official of a governmental area, usually at the county level. Unlike a Police Chief, who generally operates at the level of a city or town, this position is much more often an elected office. This year, there will be 1,216 Sheriff elections across the US.
Sheriff races this year include high-population counties such as Maricopa County, AZ; Broward County, FL; Harris County, TX; and Dallas County, TX.
Voters in King county, WA, which contains Seattle, will vote on a ballot measure to decide whether their Sheriff will be appointed by a county manager or remain an elected office.
6. Supreme Court Judges
The State Supreme Court is the court of final appeal. After court cases are tried, appeals move higher up in the hierarchy of courts. At the state level, the Supreme Court is as far as any appeal can go.
This year, voters in 21 states will pick one or more Judicial Supreme Court members. State Supreme Court rulings can set precedents that can be referenced by future courts and have impacts on rulings for decades to come.
Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia will each pick 3 new judges, while Texas and Missipppi will each pick 4!
7. Trial Judges
In 2020, Americans will vote on over 2,400 Trial Court Judges! These judges will oversee a variety of court issues including criminal and family court.
While Trial Judges often come towards the bottom of the ballot, they are vested with the power to make rulings and determine sentences. Some candidates for judge may not even be qualified for the position or recognized by their respective Bar Association. It may be useful to consider endorsements as you select candidates for these positions.
Conclusion
Given the power at stake, it’s clear that voters have an important responsibility when making their choice of candidates for the entire ballot.
At BallotReady.org, you can see all the candidates with information about their education, experience, stances on the issues, and endorsements. Any referendum that will appear on your ballot will be noted as well. Now get informed and go vote!