Big Money and Impartial Justice: Can They Live Together?

Many Americans believe that justice is for sale. Over the past decade, polling data has shown that a majority of Americans believe campaign contributions can tilt the scales of justice by influencing courtroom decisions. Two recent U.S. Supreme Court cases, *Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company* and *Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission*, have once again drawn attention to this trend in public opinion and, in particular, to the influence of campaign contributions on judicial decision-making. This Article provides an overview of fundraising, spending, and advertising in judicial campaigns, discusses public confidence in the courts, and explores reform efforts to protect the impartiality of the judiciary.