Bylaws
  • If an inquiry/request comes in, the co-chairs are authorized to handle on their own or consult with some or all members of committee.
  • On any matter presented that the full committee deals with, the decision will be by consensus if possible (as determined by co-chairs); or by majority vote if necessary.
  • Every member pledges complete confidentiality as to all of the committee discussions, correspondence, as well as any general inquiries or requests received, etc. Public comment, if any, will be only by the co-chairs.
Committee Members

J. Mark White (Co-chair)
White Arnold & Dowd P.C. (AL)

William K. Weisenberg (Co-chair)
Ohio State Bar Association

Belinda S. Barnes
Columbus Bar Association  (OH)  

Bert Brandenburg
Justice at Stake Campaign (DC)

Cynthia Canary
Illinois Campaign for Political Reform  

Professor Anthony Champagne
University of Texas at Dallas

Professor William Fortune
University of Kentucky  College of Law

Cynthia Gray
American Judicature Society (IL)     

Professor Sherrilyn A. Ifill
University of Maryland School of Law

Craig A. Landy
Peckar & Abramson, P.C. (NY)

William R. Quinlan
Much Shelist Denenberg Ament & Rubenstein, P.C. (IL)

Professor Roy Schotland
Georgetown University Law Center  (DC)

Hon. Ben W. Studdard
State Court of Henry Co.  (GA)

Dr. Frances K. Zemans
Justice System Consultant (IL)


More on the Ad Hoc Committee

The Ad Hoc Committee pursues its mission by: (1) making groups such as state and local bar associations and civic organizations aware of the campaign oversight committee model;  (2) offering advice on organizing and setting up operations for oversight committees, establishing procedures and best practices; (3) serving as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information about oversight committees and their impact; and (4) collaborating with local and national organizations to analyze issues facing oversight committees.  The Committee’s growing body of work includes:

  1. Three National Workshops on Establishing and Operating Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees. 
  2. Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees:  A How-to Handbook. -  a practical guide to organizing an oversight committee and its various functions and activities. An updated third revision will be available soon.
  3. Participating as amici curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court case Caperton v. Massey, and appeals in the Tenth Circuit (Kansas Judicial Watch v. Stout) and the Seventh Circuit (Indiana Right to Life v. Shepard).
  4. The revised Advisory Memorandum on How Judicial Candidates Should Respond to Questionnaires which provides guidance to judicial candidates on responding to special-interest group questionnaires on specific issues while maintaining judicial impartiality.
  5. The national Surveys of Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees.
  6. NEW this year!  A web-based resource center for new and existing oversight committees, Operating Effective Judicial Campaign Oversight Committees, founded on the National Workshops and revised Handbook. 

For more information on the Ad Hoc Committee or other questions, please contact Denise O. Dancy at ddancy@ncsc.org or 757.259.1593.
Copyright © 2010 The National Center for State Courts | Phone (800) 616-6109 | Fax (757) 564-2064 | jccc@ncsc.org

The National Ad Hoc Advisory Committee was established by the National Center for State Courts to enhance the quality of judicial campaigns and candidate behavior by encouraging the establishment of and supporting the work of judicial campaign conduct committees. The committee's efforts are funded, in part, by the Open Society Institute.