Karl Rove and his band of financiers figured our years ago the key to control of government. First, you take over the courts.
We have seen this play our in Texas, Alabama, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Once you get the courts to side with bib business, "we the people" get taken to the cleaners.
John Roberts and his Federalist Society background has set democracy back decades. He really should be impeached for his false testimony in his confirmation hearings. He is far from calling "balls and strikes". Citizens United is both activist and a broad decision where it should not have been.
See the article in The Atlantic for the Rovian tactics used.
Karl Rove in a corner
Unfortunately elections for judges went unnoticed by too many and have brought us todays extremely corporate friendly courts.