One defense attorney said he recently joined his bar association's judicial screening committee primarily so he would have an excuse not to give. Attorneys on the screening panel are not allowed to contribute to judicial campaigns. I think they know who contributes and who doesn't. It may not make a difference in the final decision, but it would in terms of preliminary things in a case and in subtle ways and settlement negotiations. Judicial ethics rules permit and even encourage lawyers to contribute to judges' campaigns, but there are assorted opinions on whether a lawyer can give while he or she has a case pending before the judge.
Some attorneys make their own rules.
But others said they see nothing wrong with giving to judges they may appear before, and they merely want to help jurists they know and respect. Kenneth Weinstein of Garden City said he waits every year for solicitation letters from judges' campaign committees to show up at his office, and then decides whom he'll support. But once he's made his contribution, he said that's the last he hears of it. Hey, you didn't contribute, and I'm going to punish you. The judges I contribute to I grew up with in this business.