Have you been listening to the Hell Gate Podcast? You can catch last week's episode here.
Judges wield enormous power. Here in the five boroughs, they are often the ultimate arbiters in deciding how many New Yorkers get sent to Rikers Island, where and how new housing will be built, and when children are removed from their families.
You might assume that these judges, whether they are appointed to the bench or elected by voters, have been deeply vetted, earning their positions via their qualifications and merits.
But this is far from the reality.
In 2008, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens famously described New York's method of selecting judges for its higher trial courts as "stupid." We concur, your honor!