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Campaign cash in state judicial elections grows

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2015, file photo, state Superior Court Judge David Wecht speaks during a Pennsylvania Supreme Court debate at the Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pa. Wecht, a Democrat who won a seat on the Supreme Court, said he believes being transparent and recusing himself from certain cases to avoid even an appearance of a conflict of interest demonstrates independence and builds trust with the public. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2015, file photo, state Superior Court Judge David Wecht speaks during a Pennsylvania Supreme Court debate at the Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pa. Wecht, a Democrat who won a seat on the Supreme Court, said he believes being transparent and recusing himself from certain cases to avoid even an appearance of a conflict of interest demonstrates independence and builds trust with the public. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2015, file photo, state Superior Court Judge David Wecht speaks during a Pennsylvania Supreme Court debate at the Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pa. Wecht, a Democrat who won a seat on the Supreme Court, said he believes being transparent and recusing himself from certain cases to avoid even an appearance of a conflict of interest demonstrates independence and builds trust with the public. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – The flow of money into state judicial races has been on the rise in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down heading into the 2016 elections.

That’s when voters in two dozen states will cast ballots for state supreme court justices. Races in a handful of states, including Ohio and North Carolina, are among those that will be watched closely.

Earlier this year, six candidates vying for three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court received $12.2 million combined in contributions. It was a record sum for a state judicial election.

Judicial watchdogs say the increase in political funding raises questions about how courts maintain their independence when donors and interest groups spend so much money seeking influence on the bench.