About the Ratings Definitions *
Highly Recommended: The candidate possesses the highest combination of legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament, and would be capable of outstanding performance as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.
Recommended: Based on legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament, the candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.
Not Recommended: Based on legal ability, experience, integrity or temperament, or any combination thereof, at the present time, the candidate is inadequate to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.
Overview of Candidate Ratings for Supreme Court of Pennsylvania:
Highly Recommended
Judge C. Darnell Jones II, Philadelphia County (Democrat)
Judge Paul P. Panepinto, Philadelphia County (Republican)
Judge Debra Todd, Allegheny County (Democrat - Party Endorsed)
Judge Maureen Lally-Green (Republican - Party Endorsed)
Recommended
Judge Michael L. Krancer, Montgomery County (Republican - Party Endorsed)
Judge Seamus P. McCaffery, Philadelphia County (Democrat - Party Endorsed)
Not Recommended
Judge Willis Berry, Philadelphia (Democrat)
About the The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Judicial Evaluation Commission (JEC)
During the upcoming elections, voters will be filling two vacancies on the Supreme Court and two vacancies on the Superior Court, plus voters will be deciding on the retention of eight appellate judges.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Judicial Evaluation Commission (JEC) provides information to help voters choose candidates best suited to serve as fair, impartial and knowledgeable judges, said Pittsburgh lawyer Chris F. Gillotti, chair of the PBA JEC. By its own definitions, the PBA JEC only recommends potential candidates with the legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament to provide satisfactory or outstanding performance as judges on our appellate benches.
The PBA JEC based its ratings for each candidate on a two-part evaluation process. Investigative panels conducted the first phase of the process, which included personal interviews with the candidates and with individuals who have had professional or personal dealings with them. Upon completion of the investigative process, the panels submitted confidential reports to the Commission.
Upon receipt and review of the investigative panel's report, the Commission conducted the second phase of the evaluation process. The Commission interviewed each candidate in Harrisburg, discussed his or her qualifications and reached consensus on each candidate's rating.
Serving with Gillotti in the leadership of the PBA JEC is Erie County lawyer Steven E. (Tim) Riley Jr. as vice chair. Lawyer members include Michael A. Bloom of Philadelphia County; Frederick N. Egler Jr. of Allegheny County; Stephanie F. Latimore of Dauphin County; Lucille Marsh of Lackawanna County; Heidi B. Masano of Berks County; Pamela J. Mayer of Cambria County; John R. McGinley of Allegheny County; Dianne I. Nichols of Dauphin County; Mark D. Shepard of Allegheny County; Kathryn Lease Simpson of Dauphin County; and John F. Stoviak of Philadelphia County. Non-lawyer members are Esther Bush of Allegheny County; Daniel A. Cirucci of Montgomery County; David W. Hamstead of Allegheny County; Jeraldine D. Kozloff of Berks County; and R. Thomas Williamson of Lawrence County.
*NOTE: This material is from the Pennsylvania Bar Association's site.
