"'soft on crime' attack ads are often the best means of removing from office justices they oppose"

Emory Law Professors Joanna Shepherd and Michael Kang, published by the progressive American Constitution Society (a progressive organization), write "as television advertising in a state goes up, state’s judges are more likely to decide criminal appeals against criminal defendants. The analysis also demonstrates that Citizens United exacerbated the influence of money in judicial elections influence on judicial decision making. In the 23 states that had bans on corporate or union independent expenditures, Citizens United’s lifting of these bans is associated with a decrease in justices voting in favor of defendants."