Florida Group to Distribute 'Judicial Candidates' Voter Guide
by Allie Martin
July 31, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC) has launched an initiative that could affect every judge in the Sunshine State.The "Judicial Accountability Project" involved a questionnaire that has been sent to more than 350 judicial candidates for county, circuit, appellate, and supreme court seats in Florida. Results will be published in a voter guide that will be distributed primarily through churches but also on the Internet.
FFPC president John Stemberger explains that the questionnaire will cover a wide range of topics.
"The voter guide will look at personal information about the judge candidate -- about his family, about what memberships he may have, clubs or organizations where he or she gives contributions -- and also their judicial philosophy," he says. "The second part of the guide will deal with specific issues regarding policy decisions that have been made."
Stemberger, who is an attorney, assures that the Judicial Accountability Project will not endorse any candidates. As he says, the questionnaire does not ask candidates to make a pledge of any sort or a promise to do anything.
"We're just asking them for their views about their own personal lives, about their own character, and to some degree about their views on issues," the pro-family activist explains, adding that citizens have a right to know this sort of information about candidates.
"These are elected officials who are accountable -- or should be accountable -- to the people," Stemberger continues. "And while my colleagues in the legal profession love to talk about judicial independence, precious few are willing to talk about judicial accountability."
The FFPC, which is affiliated with Focus on the Family, estimates it will print and distribute at least one million copies of the 2006 voter guide.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
