Criminal punishment and politics: Elected judges take tougher stance prior to elections

The last few months leading up to an election can be a critical, political game changer. One right or one wrong move can quickly change a candidate's standing at the polls. New research suggests that judges who are elected, rather than appointed, respond to this political pressure by handing down more severe criminal sentences -- as much as 10 percent longer -- in the last three months before an election compared with the beginning of their terms.

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