Here's a Pennsylvania political pop quiz:
How many seats on the state Supreme Court are up for grabs on the November ballot?
How many candidates are seeking them?
Can you name one of them?
I'm guessing way too many Pennsylvanians would take an 0-fer on the test.
That's a shame, because this is one of the most important races to be decided by Pennsylvania voters in just a few weeks.
For starters, it is this panel that rules on the redistricting process that has become so politicized when it comes to the way Congressional districts are carved up in the state. Don't believe it? Check out the boundaries of the new and not necessarily improved 7th District here in Delaware County.
Or at least it used to be here in Delco. Now the turf represented by Republican Pat Meehan stretches to King of Prussia and almost out to Pottstown.
Another reason this race is so important is to restore some decency to a court that has been battered over the last year.
One of the vacancies was created when Justice Joan Orie Melvin was forced to step down after she was convicted of using some of her employees to do political work.
Then there is Justice Seamus McCaffery. He stepped down when he became one of the first victims in the porn email scandal that is currently turning the state's justice system into a conflagration. Now Justice Michael Eakin is apologizing for his role in receiving and sharing the inappropriate emails.
The third seat on the bench was created when Chief Justice Ron Castille turned 70, the mandatory retirement age for justices.
All seven candidates took part in a debate last night in Harrisburg. You can read the story here.
As a public service, the Heron's Nest will list the bio information on all seven candidates.
Do yourself - and your state - a favor. Learn about these seven people. And make sure you cast a ballot for the three you think would best serve on the state's high court.
A quick look at the seven candidates competing in the Nov. 3 election for three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court:
DEMOCRATS
NAME: CHRISTINE DONOHUE
AGE: 62
EDUCATION: B.A., East Stroudsburg University (1974); J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1980).
EXPERIENCE: Private law practice (1980-2007); state Superior Court judge (2008-present).
FAMILY: Single.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://donohueforjustice.com/
___
NAME: KEVIN DOUGHERTY
AGE: 55
EDUCATION: B.A., Temple University (1984), J.D., Antioch School of Law (1988).
EXPERIENCE: Philadelphia district attorney's office (1990-1995); private practice (1995-2001); Philadelphia Common Pleas judge (2001-present).
FAMILY: Married, two children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://www.doughertyforpa.com/
___
NAME: DAVID WECHT
AGE: 53
EDUCATION: B.A., Yale University (1984); J.D., Yale Law School (1987).
EXPERIENCE: Private law practice (1989-2003); Allegheny County register of wills and clerk of orphans' court (1998-2003); Allegheny County Common Pleas judge (2003-2012), state Superior Court judge (2012-present).
FAMILY: Married, four children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://www.wecht2015.com/
___
REPUBLICANS
NAME: ANNE COVEY
AGE: 55
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Delaware (1981); J.D., Widener University School of Law (1984).
EXPERIENCE: Private law practice (1987-2011); member, Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, (2002-2011); state Commonwealth Court judge (2012-present).
FAMILY: Married, two children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://www.coveyforjustice.com/
___
NAME: JUDY OLSON
AGE: 57
EDUCATION: B.A., St. Francis College (1979); J.D., Duquesne University Law School (1982).
EXPERIENCE: Private law practice (1984-2008); Allegheny County judge (2008-2009); state Superior Court judge (2010-present).
FAMILY: Married, two children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://electjudgejudy.com/
___
NAME: MIKE GEORGE
AGE: 56
EDUCATION: B.A., Washington and Jefferson College (1981), J.D., Dickinson School of Law (1985).
EXPERIENCE: Private law practice (1985-1996); Adams County district attorney (1996-2001); Adams County Common Pleas judge (2002 to present).
FAMILY: Married, two children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://judgemikegeorge.com/
___
INDEPENDENT
NAME: PAUL PANEPINTO
AGE: 66
EDUCATION: B.A., Villanova University (1971); J.D., Widener University Law School (1976); M.A. Villanova (1979).
EXPERIENCE: Philadelphia Common Pleas judge, 1990-present. A former Republican, he dropped out of the GOP in March to register as an independent.
FAMILY: Married, two children.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: http://www.judgepanepinto.com/
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