We received a communication from the League of Women Voters holding a Supreme Court candidates Forum for the Election in PA this year; and we’re posting it here for our members and the Mt. Lebanon Public.
2015 is an historic election in Pennsylvania. For the first time in 300 years, Pennsylvanians will elect three Supreme Court justices, filling two seats that were vacated under the cloud of judicial misconduct and one that was vacated because of mandatory retirement.
Although the LWVPA supports changing the way we choose appellate court judges, until we achieve reform, it is crucial that voters are educated about what judges do and who the candidates are.
Unfortunately, getting that information is difficult, and making an educated decision on which candidates would be best for the bench is nearly impossible given the restrictions on judicial candidate speech and the flood of special interest money into the race.
LWVPA relies heavily on our local leagues to do the yeoman’s work of educating the public about the relevant issues in any election. To help you accomplish this, we are providing links to multiple resources.
Documents published by Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts:
- PA Supreme Court and Appellate Court Judges – the 3 statewide courts showing incumbents and vacancies
- What to Consider When Voting for a Judge
Videos:
- The Judicial Branch published by Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System
- Protecting Our Rights; Protecting Our Courts published by the American Bar Association
The LWVPA will be hosting a forum to help understand the process and the candidates on Tuesday, October 20, 2015; 6-9 pm:
Supreme Court Candidate Forum (Between 7-8:30 pm)
Homewood Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Voter Services Chair Suzanne Almeida at (509) 251-6605 or via email at [email protected].
Disclaimer: The League of Women Voters does not endorse candidates and is not affiliated with the Democratic Party.