The Contenders in the Approaching Judicial Elections, and the Need for Independence
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Sean MacPhee
Source: Judges on Merit blog
Date: October 17, 2011
According to the Judges on Merit blog, a recent debate between two Superior Court candidates “underscores the growing awareness of the influence money can have in judicial politics, where one expects – or should be able to expect – the greatest degree of impartiality.” The candidates expressed divergent views on political activity by outside interest groups in a judicial election. The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that Democrat David Wecht asked Republican Victor Stabile to sign a mutual pledge renouncing ads, mailings or other activity by outside groups or their political committees, but that Stabile was hesitant to do so because of “free speech case rulings that permit all voices a right to be heard in election campaigns.”
See also: Charles Thompson, Pennsylvania Superior Court Candidates Spar Over Outside Interests, Harrisburg Patriot-News, October 14, 2011.