The People’s Courts

“Shugerman looks at changes in how judges have been appointed and elected over the years, and how battles over judges and judicial elections have increased in recent years… Well worth reading for those interested in legal history as well as for those interested in how politics and society shape the legal system.”—S. A. Merriman, Choice

“The People’s Courts is the first comprehensive history of judicial elections, an exciting work that sharply challenges how we usually think about courts, constitutionalism, and democracy. For a long time to come this is going to be the definitive book on elected judiciaries.”—Robert W. Gordon, Stanford Law School

“A powerfully framed and comprehensive exploration of how judges and politicians (often politician-judges) responded to the apparent tensions between popular democracy and judicial independence. The People’s Courts will be essential reading for everyone interested in the political history of the judiciary.”—Hendrik Hartog, Princeton University

“This is an important book on a vastly important topic—the indispensable source for anyone interested in how the United States arrived at the ‘peculiar institution’ of judicial elections.”—John Fabian Witt, Yale Law School