I've practiced law in two states-one with judicial elections (WI) and one without. Of the two, it's my reluctant conclusion that judicial elections are a bad concept. Elections very much exaggerate the "local boy" effect, where out of town counsel has to fight uphill from the start. Technically judges were not supposed to participate in fund raising or even know who he contributors are, but every time I contributed to a judge's campaign I was personally welcomed very warmly by that judge the next time I was in his/her courtroom.
It is also my firm belief that poltical issues have absolutely no place in deciding who should be a judge, except perhaps on the US Supreme Court, where nearly every decision is a political issue.
The worst judge-by far-in Milwaukee county when I was there was also the highest vote getter (also by far).
I'm not sure what the best selection process is (here they are nominated by the Governor, approved by the Legislature for a limited renewable term) and this process gives the legislative judicial committee way too much power.
I think the Indiana Supreme Court recently went through a similar turmoil due to it's controversial decision on same sex marriage., where the fundamentalists voted out the offending Justices.
Justice is not something that is determined by what is most popular at the moment.