Primary voters in Allegheny County are accustomed to having lots of choices for Common Pleas Court, and the May 19 ballot does not disappoint.

The most obvious campaigning by the 15 candidates vying for five seats on the bench unfolds in the grassy areas along local roadways, but choosing judges is too important to be decided by something as flimsy as a yard sign. Endorsements -- particularly from the county Democratic Committee, but also from other interest groups including labor unions -- are key determinants, and even the randomly assigned ballot positions can be significant.

All 15 candidates are Democrats, and 10 of them also appear on the Republican ballot since state law allows cross-filing in this race. Those who win both nominations in the primary are practically assured election in the fall.

Post-Gazette editors interviewed 12 of the competitors -- three declined to meet with us -- and we offer endorsements of five strong candidates for these vital positions, based on those conversations and other research. All five appear on both party ballots.

• Joe Williams, 57, of Penn Hills is the only contender who already is serving as a Common Pleas judge. Appointed to a vacancy based on his 23-year career as a criminal defense attorney, Judge Williams now seeks a full 10-year term. He is assigned to the criminal division, where his experience is enhanced by his sensitivity to the impact court proceedings have on friends and relatives of both defendants and victims in the courtroom. A Manchester native, Judge Williams received the top rating of the Allegheny County Bar Association -- "highly recommended." The Post-Gazette heartily endorses Joe Williams as a candidate who brings the right skills, knowledge and demeanor to Common Pleas Court.

• Alex Bicket, 52, of Mt. Lebanon brings considerable trial experience and the most unusual background to this race. A native of South Africa who opposed apartheid, he visited Pittsburgh after studying at Columbia University and never left. He attended Duquesne University's law school while teaching at Fox Chapel High School and, in 1988, passed the bar exam and became a citizen. Since then, he has been with the firm Zimmer Kunz, where he is a partner specializing in commercial and insurance cases. Highly recommended by the bar association, the Post-Gazette endorses Alex Bicket, whose intelligence, experience and respectful manner will assure litigants that their cases are getting a fair shake.

• Phil Ignelzi, 53, of McCandless may be better known for his criminal defense work in high-profile, white-collar trials, but his practice is dominated by medical malpractice cases. Mr. Ignelzi was a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh for four years and he has 27 years of trial experience. In 1994, he was elected to the Academy of Trial Lawyers, made up of 250 select civil trial attorneys. He is highly recommended by the bar association, and he has been honored both for his criminal work and his malpractice cases. Phil Ignelzi, a highly regarded attorney with integrity and extensive experience, deserves nomination.

• Hugh McGough, 53, of Shadyside, a specialist in labor and employment law, was a negotiator, labor relations manager and assistant solicitor for the city of Pittsburgh for nine years. Today he is in private practice, primarily handling workplace, municipal and criminal law. He comes highly recommended by the bar association. A former producer at KDKA-TV, he is active in the community, including as a board member and former president of the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. While his brother, Tom, is the Post-Gazette's attorney, that didn't influence our decision. We endorse Hugh McGoughbecause he is a hard-working, experienced attorney who would bring dignity, impartiality and ethics to the court.

• Susan Evashavik DiLucente, 46, of Forest Hills, has been a magisterial district judge since 2002, presiding over preliminary hearings, traffic cases, protection from abuse requests and other matters for Edgewood, Churchill, Forest Hills and Wilkins. She has staggered starting times to cut down on long waits for clients and lawyers, and she has taken a holistic approach to juvenile cases, ordering tutoring or treatment as well as punishment when warranted. Recommended by the bar association, Susan Evashavik DiLucentewill bring practical, firsthand experience to Common Pleas Court.