Voters Guide 2007: Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Superior Court races

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania's high courts -- Supreme and Superior -- sit in judgment on the constitutionality of state laws ranging from life-and-death to everyday, yet the contests for these offices often attract limited voter interest and little excitement.

The process is designed to separate politics from the judiciary and, in years past, it led to a now-abandoned theory that candidates should say little about themselves or their beliefs beyond their qualifications. In reality, judicial races, because of their often low-key nature, have relied heavily on party endorsements and the rank-and-file work of ward leaders across the state to make the difference. Another key factor has become the state bar association's ratings system, which assesses candidates based on experience, education and temperament.

This year's judicial races feature sitting jurists from across the state, including three Superior Court judges who would like to move up to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT

For Supreme Court, Democratic candidates include Willis W. Berry Jr. and C. Darnell Jones II, both Philadelphia County judges; another Philadelphian, Seamus P. McCaffery, a Superior Court judge; and Debra M. Todd, an Allegheny Countian and Superior Court judge. The state's Democratic Committee has endorsed Mr. McCaffery and Ms. Todd.

On the Republican ballot, Maureen Lally-Green, a Superior Court judge from Butler County, is in a three-way contest with Michael L. Krancer, chief judge of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, and Paul P. Panepinto, a Philadelphia judge. The state's Republican Party has endorsed Ms. Lally-Green and Mr. Krancer.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Commission has ranked Judges Jones, Lally-Green, Panepinto and Todd as "highly recommended," the association's highest rating. Judges Krancer and McCaffery received lesser "recommended" ratings while Judge Berry was listed as not recommended by the board.

"Raises still resonate in state high court race," May 8, 2007, page B-1

CANDIDATE LISTINGS

Listings are of candidates in the May 15 primary. Each candidate's listing includes a Web site, e-mail address and phone number, provided that information was made available. Also referenced are previous Post-Gazette articles about selected races.

The complete Voters Guide can be found online at www.post-gazette.com/politics.

Vote for not more than two in your party
(I) - denotes incumbent

Democratic

Willis W. Berry Jr., 64, Philadelphia
w1535@netscape.net
215-753-0350

Seamus P. McCaffery, 56, Philadelphia
www.JudgeSeamus.com
mccafferyforsupremecourt@verizon.net
215-673-8683

Debra M. Todd, 49, Cranberry
412-651-2010

C. Darnell Jones II, 57, Philadelphia
jonesforsupremecourt.com
215-569-4430

Republican

Paul P. Panepinto, 57, Philadelphia
www.judgepanepinto.com
contact@judgepanepinto.com
215-925-6939

Maureen Lally-Green, 57, Cranberry
www.LallyGreen.com
committeetoelectlallygreen@yahoo.com
412-508-8387

Michael L. Krancer, Lower Merion
www.krancerforsupreme.com
krancer@krancerforsupreme.com
717-234-4901 Ext.111

PENNSYLVANIA SUPERIOR COURT

In the contest for Superior Court, seven Democrats are seeking two nominations.

The Democratic Party has endorsed only John Milton Younge, a Philadelphia judge who also received a "recommended" rating from the bar association. "Highly recommended" ratings went to Christine L. Donohue, an attorney from Allegheny County; Ronald W. Folino, an Allegheny County judge; and Anne E. Lazarus, a Philadelphia judge. Timothy J. McCormick, a lawyer from Westmoreland County, and James Murray Lynn, a Philadelphia judge, were rated "recommended." James M. DeLeon, a municipal judge in Philadelphia, was not recommended based on his failure to respond to the bar association's request for information.

On the Republican ballot, Cheryl L. Allen, an Allegheny County judge; Bruce E. Bratton, a Dauphin County judge; and Jacqueline O. Shogan, a Westmoreland County attorney, are vying for the two nominations. Mr. Bratton and Ms. Shogan were endorsed by the state's Republican Committee, and both are listed by the bar association as "recommended." Judge Allen, a former Democrat, was the lone Republican nominee to receive a "highly recommended" ranking from the bar association.

CANDIDATE LISTINGS

The complete Voters Guide can be found online at www.post-gazette.com/politics.

Vote for not more than two in your party
(I) - denotes incumbent

Timothy J. McCormick, 53, Hempfield
www.McCormick4SuperiorCourt.com
tjmc@tjmclaw.com
724-838-1912