FYI: State Chief Judge Judith Kaye this week appointed a 29-member commission to study ways to “reaffirm public trust in our judiciary.” Kaye cited judicial elections as a particular area of concern. Judicial elections drew renewed attention last fall when respected Brooklyn Civil Court Judge Margarita Lopez Torres nearly lost her seat due to a feud with the borough’s political leaders. Former Fordham University Law School Dean John Feerick will chair the panel, which is a mix of judges, legal aid advocates and attorneys. Feerick also sits on the three-member panel that is charged with oversight of New York City’s homeless family shelters as a result of a January settlement in a long-running legal battle between homeless advocates and the city. [4/18/03]