In an ideal world there would be merit selection of judges. But of course it depends upon how you define “merit” and that is where the whole process breaks down. Election of judges is viewed in other countries (and by many in the United States) as a very odd process. But before you exclaim all of the virtues of the federal court appointment process consider this report, Liberals crushed in SCOTUS spending war; Conservatives are vastly outspending liberals and targeting vulnerable senators in the fight to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, by Burgess Everett and Maggie Severns of Politico.