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So, in recent cycles

2
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the partisan veil

3
00:00:03,537 --> 00:00:04,505
has really been lifted

4
00:00:04,571 --> 00:00:05,639
in these races.

5
00:00:05,706 --> 00:00:07,140
How do election experts

6
00:00:07,207 --> 00:00:08,242
like yourself

7
00:00:08,308 --> 00:00:08,942
regard that?

8
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As good or bad?

9
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We're in a really strange era

10
00:00:12,613 --> 00:00:13,347
in the state

11
00:00:13,413 --> 00:00:14,781
Supreme Court elections

12
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because they are

13
00:00:16,116 --> 00:00:17,117
taking on this

14
00:00:17,184 --> 00:00:19,419
overtly partisan tone.

15
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The two political parties

16
00:00:21,255 --> 00:00:23,257
have given money directly

17
00:00:23,323 --> 00:00:24,591
to the candidates.

18
00:00:24,658 --> 00:00:27,160
The candidates have drawn on

19
00:00:27,227 --> 00:00:28,829
political party resources

20
00:00:28,896 --> 00:00:29,863
and networks

21
00:00:29,930 --> 00:00:31,732
throughout this campaign.

22
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Yet they want

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00:00:33,467 --> 00:00:35,269
to maintain a sense

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00:00:35,769 --> 00:00:36,570
that they will be an

25
00:00:36,637 --> 00:00:38,705
independent judge.

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We saw them

27
00:00:39,907 --> 00:00:41,742
accusing the other of being

28
00:00:41,808 --> 00:00:42,876
the activist judge.

29
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So it's this weird

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00:00:44,678 --> 00:00:46,713
murky middle ground right now

31
00:00:46,780 --> 00:00:48,549
where the parties are

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00:00:48,615 --> 00:00:50,117
deeply involved.

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00:00:50,184 --> 00:00:52,553
The justices often accept

34
00:00:52,619 --> 00:00:53,387
the support

35
00:00:53,453 --> 00:00:54,354
of the political parties

36
00:00:54,421 --> 00:00:55,589
but they also want

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00:00:55,656 --> 00:00:56,890
to be clear that

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they will have some

39
00:00:58,225 --> 00:01:00,460
sense of independence.