Dollars and other dynamics impacting judicial decisions
The New York Times has this extended article, focused on the Ohio Supreme Court, which explores the possible impact of campaign contributions on judicial decision-making by elected judges. The article is sobering, though contributions impacting rulings likely is not a huge problem in criminal justice cases. However, as commentors and litigants have long known, broader concerns about politics do loom very large in criminal cases (and, I would suggest, especially in cases involving sentencing issues where the basic guilt of the offender is not in dispute).
Some related posts on politics, policy and sentencing judgments: