Identify and explain the two reasons Texas uses elections to select most of its judges, and explain why the textbook authors state that one reason is ironic.

What will be an ideal response?

The ideal answer should include:
1. Texas elects most of its judges because (1) Texas's traditionalistic and individualistic political culture has a general distrust of government and resists judicial reform, and (2) the framers of the Texas constitution reasoned that a popularly elected judiciary would be more responsive to the people than to any full-time politicians and would act to curtail the power of the governor.
2. The irony of the desire to curtail the power of the governor is that this same system allows the governor to fill vacancies in state courts between elections. Currently, seven of the nine justices serving on the Texas supreme court first assumed office by means of gubernatorial appointment. Being appointed to fill a term of office provides a huge advantage to the appointee, because it allows the justice to run as an incumbent in the next election. The ability to fill vacancies has provided the governor with immense power to shape state courts.