Study: ABA Hands Out Lower Ratings to Female, Minority Judge Candidates

Female and minority candidates for judgeships are being held back by the American Bar Association, a new study suggests. The ABA hands out disproportionately low ratings to minority and female judicial nominees, according to the study, to be published in the Spring 2014 edition of Journal of Law and Courts. The lower ratings were measurable even when controlling for education, experience and ideological bent. The study also found that poor ABA ratings are correlated with failure to be confirmed, although judges with high ratings fared no better in reversal rates once appointed to the bench.