Independent judiciary threatened, Sandra Day O'Connor says

Retired justice Sandra Day O'Connor yestereay said last week's Supreme Court decision striking down restrictions on corporate spending in elections will energize an "arms race" in judicial elections, threatening an independent judiciary.

O'Connor said the decision will effect an overwhelming number of states and localities that elect judges.

"In invalidating some of the existing checks on campaign spending, the majority in Citizens United has signaled that the problem of campaign contributions in judicial elections might get considerably worse and quite soon," O'Connor said at a symposium at Georgetown Law Center.

She noted that each election cycle brings new spending records in judicial races.