Judicial candidates - 2007

2007 candidates for Pennsylvania state and regional judicial posts

Each judicial candidate was asked to respond to a questionnaire provided by The Inquirer Editorial Board.
(Winners are noted with an asterisk.)

Pennsylvania Supreme Court:
Mike Krancer (R.) | Maureen Lally-Green (R.) | *Seamus McCaffrey (D.) | *Debra Todd (D.)

Retention for a 10-year term:
*Justice Thomas Saylor

Pennsylvania Superior Court:
*Cheryl Allen (R.) | Bruce F. Bratton (R.) | *Jacqueline O. Shogan (R.) | *Christine Donohue (D.) | Ron Folino (D.) | John M. Younge (D.)

Retention for a 10-year term:
Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin | Superior Court Judge John L. Musmanno | Superior Court Judge Correale F. Stevens
Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie B. Leadbetter | Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley | Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner
(All were retained.)

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas:
*Linda A. Carpenter | *Alice Beck Dubow | *Michael Erdos | *Ellen Green-Ceisler

Philadelphia Municipal Court:
Joseph O'Neill | Jackie Frazier

Bucks County Court of Common Pleas:
* Diane Gibbons

Chester County Court of Common Pleas:
* David F. Bortner | Jennifer W. Levy-Tatum 

Delaware County Court of Common Pleas:
* Mary Alice Brennan | Frank W. Daly | * Greg Mallon | Mike Farrell

Each judicial candidate was asked to respond to the following six questions:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge on the court for which you are running?
2. Briefly describe the nature of your law practice.
3. Have you been rated by the Bar Association? (You can check out the latest Phila. Bar Association ratings here.)
4. How does/should an individual judge maintain his/her independence?
5. What are the most pressing needs of reform in our justice system?
6. Under what circumstances do you believe that a courtroom should be closed?