There are just about two weeks until Election Day, and while Pennsylvania’s municipal and judicial elections (those held in odd-numbered years) aren’t typically news makers, this year is a little different. Most notably, there are an historic three seats up for grabs on the Commonwealth’s Supreme Court, as well as vacancies on the Superior and Commonwealth Courts. Since these races often occur with little fanfare, we wanted to offer you a “just the facts” look at each of the candidates for each seat. (Candidates are listed in ballot order.)

Supreme Court

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth and the oldest appellate court in the country. Its jurisdiction includes discretionary appeals from the Commonwealth and Superior Courts, direct appeals from lower court decisions and requests to intervene in a lower court’s proceeding. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is comprised of seven justices. There are three open seats in this year’s election due to the retirements of Justice Ronald Castille, Justice Seamus McCaffery and Justice Joan Orie Melvin. You can read more about the candidates for these seats below:

David Wecht (D-Allegheny)

  • Age:
    • 53
  • Education:
    • Yale University, B.A.; 1984
    • Yale University School of Law, J.D.; 1987
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Pennsylvania Superior Court
    • Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
    • Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court, Allegheny County
    • Partner, The Wecht Law Firm
    • Associate, Katarincic & Salmon
    • Associate, Williams & Connolly
    • Law Clerk, Judge George MacKinno

Kevin Dougherty (D-Philadelphia)

  • Age:
    • 52
  • Education:
    • Temple University, B.A.; 1985
    • Antioch School of Law, J.D.; 1987
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
    • Special Master, Philadelphia Family Court Truancy Program
    • Attorney in private practice
    • Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia County
    • Attorney in private practice

Christine Donohue (D-Allegheny)

  • Age:
    • 62
  • Education:
    • East Stroudsburg University, B.A.; 1974
    • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.; 1980
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Pennsylvania Superior Court
    • Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C.
    • Partner, Evans Rosen Portnoy Quinn and Donohue
    • Associate, Sikov & Lov

Judith Olson (R-Allegheny)

  • Age:
    • 58
  • Education:
    • St. Francis University, B.A.; 1979
    • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.; 1982
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Pennsylvania Superior Court
    • Judge, Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County
    • Partner, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
    • Attorney/Founder, Sweeney Metz Fox Mcgrann & Schermer L.L.C.
    • Partner, Dickie, Mccamey & Chilcote, P.C.
    • Law Clerk, Honorable Maurice B. Cohill, Jr

Michael George (R-Adams)

  • Age:
    • 56
  • Education:
    • Washington and Jefferson College, B.A.; 1981
    • Dickinson School of Law, J.D.; 1985
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Adams County Court of Common Pleas
    • District Attorney, Adams County
    • Partner, Campbell, White & George
    • Associate, Campbell & Whit

Anne Covey (R-Bucks)

  • Age:
    • 55
  • Education:
    • University of Delaware, B.A.; 1981
    • Widener University School of Law, J.D.; 1984
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
    • Member, Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board
    • Attorney, Covey & Associates, P.C.
    • Partner, Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla
    • Attorney, McCarter & English
    • Attorney, Blank Rome; 1987-1988
    • Judicial Law Clerk, Commonwealth Court
    • Assistant Counsel, Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board

Superior Court

The Superior Court was established in 1895 as the first Pennsylvania statewide intermediate appellate court. Like the Commonwealth Court, cases are usually heard by a three-judge panel. Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas and appeals involving children and family matters are brought before the Superior Court.

There are 15 Superior Court judges, each with a 10-year term. After serving for 10 years, judges can retain their seat by winning a statewide retention vote. There is one seat open in this year’s election, due to the retirement of Judge Correale Stevens. Your candidates for Superior Court are:

Alice Dubow (D-Philadelphia)

  • Age:
    • 56
  • Education:
    • University of Pennsylvania, B.A.; 1981
    • University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.; 1984
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
    • Attorney, Drexel University
    • Attorney, Wolf Block
    • Assistant City Solicitor and Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, City of Philadelphia
    • Associate, Fineman & Bach
    • Associate, Duane Morris and Heckscher
    • Law Clerk, Bucks County Court of Common Plea

Emil Giordano (R-Northampton)

  • Age:
    • 55
  • Education:
    • Moravian College, B.A.; 1982
    • Villanova University, J.D.; 1985
  • Experience:
    • Judge, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas
    • Attorney in private practice
    • Associate, Holland, Taylor and Sorrentino
    • Assistant District Attorney, Lehigh County

Commonwealth Court

The Commonwealth Court was established in 1968 as one of two intermediate appellate courts in Pennsylvania. There are nine Commonwealth Court judges, each with a 10-year term. After serving for 10 years, judges can retain their seat by winning a statewide retention vote.

The Commonwealth Court, typically seated in panels of three, has jurisdiction over civil actions brought by or against the state. In addition, they hear appeals from state agency and Court of Common Pleas’ decisions. There is one seat open in this year’s election, due to the retirement of Judge Dan Pellegrini. Here’s the skinny on each candidate:

Michael Wojcik (D-Allegheny)

  • Age:
    • 51
  • Education:
    • Juniata College, B.A.; 1986
    • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.; 1989
  • Experience:
    • Attorney at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart
    • Partner at Thorp, Reed & Armstrong
    • Solicitor to the Allegheny County Controller
    • Allegheny County Solicitor
    • Solicitor for the Allegheny County Airport Authorit

Paul Lalley (R-Allegheny)

  • Age:
    • 45
  • Education:
    • University of Pennsylvania, B.A.; 1993
    • Dickinson School of Law, J.D.; 1996
  • Experience:
    • Law Clerk to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman
    • Attorney at the Levin Legal Group
    • Attorney at Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C.

Don’t forget to exercise your right to vote! Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, and polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

To find your polling place, go to: https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx

We’ll update you on the winners and losers, but in the meantime, you can check here for results: http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/