This year’s race for the uniquely Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court pits three veteran attorneys against each other for one spot.
The opening on the court will come from the mandatory retirement of now President Judge Dan Pellegrini, who will turn 70 in September.
Each of the candidates in the race was rated as “recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has a long history of practicing before the Commonwealth Court, which is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the Keystone state. It serves as both a trial court for cases involving lawsuits filed by or against the commonwealth, and as a reviewing court for regulatory agencies, local and state governments.
There are nine judges assigned to the Commonwealth Court, and some of its recent cases of note include the Voter ID Law, as well as the recent challenge regarding public school funding.
Two Democrats and one Republican are vying for the $191,926 annual position. Judges on the court face retention votes every 10 years.
Michael H. Wojcik
Michael H. Wojcik, 50, of Fox Chapel, is an attorney with Clark Hill in Downtown Pittsburgh after previously serving as Allegheny County solicitor under Dan Onorato for eight years from 2004 to 2012. He is seeking the Democratic nomination in the primary.
After leaving county government, Mr. Wojcik returned to Thorp, Reed, which merged with Clark Hill in 2013. There he serves as solicitor with the Airport Authority and previously represented Alcosan and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
“Commonwealth Court is a perfect match for who I am and what I want to do,” Mr. Wojcik said. “I don’t think any other candidate or judge currently on the court has the depth and breadth of my experience.”
He estimated that 75 percent of his career has been spent in government and municipal law. Among the cases he has won before the Commonwealth Court is Allegheny County’s drink tax. He wrote the statute and then defended it successfully.
“That’s the perfect example of government being creative and doing the right thing,” Mr. Wojcik said. “But for that dedicated funding source, you would have seen Port Authority dissolve or a pretty substantial real estate tax increase.”
Mr. Wojcik is married to Traci Wojcik, and they have a daughter, age 16, and a son, age 15. He attended Juniata College for his undergraduate degree and law school at the University of Pittsburgh, class of 1989.
According to his campaign finance filings, Mr. Wojcik has received $22,095 in contributions, with his biggest donors listed at $5,000 from Charles J. Queenan, and $2,500 from Clark Hill.
Campaign website: wojcikforjudge.com
Paul N. Lalley
Paul N. Lalley, 44, of Upper St. Clair is an attorney for Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller in Pittsburgh.
He is seeking the Republican nomination for the court and is running unopposed in the primary.
Early in his career, Mr. Lalley clerked for state Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, which piqued his interest in someday running for an appellate court seat.
Much of his career has been spent representing school districts, through the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Among the cases he has handled include the redistribution of Duquesne High School students after the school closed in 2007 and in 2012, the delay for one year before new Allegheny County reassessment numbers were to be used to determine tax rates for area school districts.
Mr. Lalley currently handles mostly labor and employment law and represents Pittsburgh Public Schools in that area.
“My career has been in the service of public sector, governmental clients,” he said. “It’s become my life’s interest.”
Mr. Lalley is married to Jessica Jewell Lalley and has two daughters, ages 5 and 3. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate education and Dickinson School of Law, class of 1996.
Mr. Lalley has received $125,625, including two $50,000 donations from both the PA Future Fund, and Robert C. Hacker, of K&L Gates in Washington, D.C.
Campaign website: lalley4judge.com
Todd Eagen
Todd Eagen, 47, of Dunmore is an attorney at Lightman, Welby & Stoltenberg in Scranton.
He is seeking the Democratic nomination in the primary.
Early in his career, Mr. Eagen clerked for U.S. District Judge William J. Nealon in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
He has practiced primarily in labor law, as well as employment law and has represented various unions, including law enforcement and the Teamsters. Even though Mr. Eagen works in Scranton, his practice is statewide because of the various groups he represents, including the Allegheny County Prison Guards and local FOPs and sheriff’s associations. His firm represents the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association
He also has served as a union arbitrator in more than 200 cases.
“It’s really been a privilege for me to be able to represent working families,” Mr. Eagen said. “I think I’m more attune to the issues they face and the direction they want this commonwealth to move in.”
Mr. Eagen called Commonwealth Court the one he is most familiar with and said the cases it considers affect citizens as much or more than any of the others — particularly in areas like wages, benefits and employment discrimination.
Mr. Eagen is married and has two daughters, ages 12 and 14.
Mr. Eagen collected $105,561, including $75,000 from the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association PAC and $10,000 from the Troopers Association PAC.
Campaign website: toddeagen.com
Paula Reed Ward: pward@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2620 or on Twitter: @PaulaReedWard.
First Published: April 26, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
