TV spending on judicial races rises nationwide

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Television advertising meant to sway the outcome of judicial elections surged during the 2012 election cycle, a national report says, as special-interest groups tried to capitalize on new rules that allowed unlimited spending.

TV spending on races for state Supreme Courts and other high courts jumped to $33.7 million in 2011 and 2012, an increase of more than $7 million from four years earlier, and more than a quarter of all spending came from organizations such as the National Rifle Association, Americans for Prosperity and America Votes.

Negative advertising aired in 10 states, including some spots that were misleading, according to researchers at New York University School of Law and the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

Read more at The Tennessean.