Running for a judicial seat is very different from running for a legislative or executive office. You can’t make the same kinds of promises. You have to be more careful about what you say and how you say it. And yet, you’re still asking the public to trust you with enormous responsibility.
Here are some ways to prepare for interviews, editorial boards, and public forums as a judicial candidate, while staying firmly within ethical boundaries.
1. Lead with qualifications, temperament, and fairness
Voters in judicial races often know very little about the candidates. Avoid slogans and focus on:
- Your experience (types of cases, years of practice, relevant roles)
- Your reputation for fairness, integrity, and preparation
- How you approach the role of a judge: listening, weighing evidence, applying the law
Example framing:
“My commitment is to treat every person who comes before the court with dignity, to listen carefully, and to apply the law fairly and consistently.”
2. Be careful with specific issues and cases
In many jurisdictions, you’re restricted from:
- Making specific promises about how you’d rule
- Prejudging potential future cases
Instead:
- Talk about principles: rule of law, fairness, equal treatment, access to justice
- Reference your past work in general terms, not as predictive promises
Example:
“While I can’t say how I’d rule in any particular case, I can say that I will follow the law, the constitution, and binding precedent, and that I take very seriously the rights of all parties who appear before the court.”
3. Prepare for questions about bias and background
You may be asked about:
- Your prior work (prosecutor, defense, civil litigation)
- Your personal background or identity
- Perceived bias on certain issues
Prepare answers that:
- Acknowledge the question
- Recenter on your duty as a judge
- Emphasize fairness and open-mindedness
Example:
“I’ve spent much of my career representing [X group]. That experience gives me insight into how the system affects people’s lives. But as a judge, my role is different: it’s to apply the law impartially to the facts of each case, not to advocate for one side.”
4. Practice your tone, not just your words
For judicial candidates, tone is as important as content. You want to come across as:
- Calm
- Respectful
- Serious
- Accessible
Media training can help you refine:
- How you handle interruptions or hostile questions
- Your pacing, body language, and facial expressions
- How you simplify complex legal concepts without sounding condescending
5. Have a plan for what you won’t say
Decide ahead of time:
- Which topics are off-limits due to ethics rules
- How you’ll decline to answer, respectfully and consistently
- How you’ll pivot back to your qualifications and principles
Example pivot:
“I can’t comment on that specific issue because it could come before the court. What I can tell you is how I approach every case: I read the record thoroughly, listen carefully to both sides, and apply the law and precedent as written.”
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