Independent spending wreaked havoc on judicial elections and tested campaign finance laws in 2012, as interest groups evaded contribution limits and spent millions of dollars to elect their preferred judges. The true ramifications of Citizens United and other federal court cases that weakened campaign finance laws were felt in judicial races around the country. A record $29.7 million was spent on ads in state supreme court elections, and more than half of this money came in the form of independent spending, according to Justice at Stake and the Brennan Center for Justice, two groups that track spending in judicial races.

Read More: Center for American Progress