Litigation

?Clear Message for Change? on Picking PA Judges

By Peter Hardin

Citing bipartisan support by the current governor and three predecessors, a Delaware County Times editorial argues that the time has arrived for Pennsylvanians to vote on adopting merit selection for appellate judges.

The editorial was one of a number that cited a recent poll by Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, reflecting strong support for a merit selection method and far higher support for an opportunity to vote on the issue (see Gavel Grab).

The newspaper makes clear its support for ending partisan elections and for keeping politics out of judicial selection. Then it refers to the support voiced by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and three of his Republican predecessors:

“It is time for the people to vote on the issue and time Harrisburg agrees to put it on the ballot. Three Republican and one Democratic governor concur that voters should decide whether Commonwealth and Superior Court judges and state Supreme Court justices should be elected or appointed. Bipartisan support is unusual at any level of government.

“The bipartisanship exhibited last week between former and current governors of this state sends a clear message about the need for change in Pennsylvania?s judicial elections.”

In The Scranton Times-Tribune, an editorial weighs in in favor of merit selection, calling the state’s most recent, $4.7 million contest for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court “the best example of why the state should switch.” The editorial also calls on lawmakers to put merit selection before Pennsylvania voters:

“Merit selection isn’t perfect. Politics never can be completely eradicated from the system. But merit selection would put qualifications far higher on the list than they are now.”

An editorial in the Pocono Record, however, disagrees and contends the governors “are on the wrong track.”

PMC is a partner of Justice at Stake. To learn more about merit selection of judges, check out the JAS issues page on the method.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 14, 2010 (boomark / email).