In race for city judge, ballot position and campaign cash trump skill

In Philly, we don't pick judges based on skill.

That's not the way.

The process has little to do with merit. It's all about the chance of a lucky ballot spot, and the sway of money and politics.

The judicial kingmakers - the Democratic City Committee, the power brokers, the vote-wielding ward leaders - aren't sweating over quality, credentials, and experience.

Hey, if you've got some brains, it probably won't hurt you. But if you don't, it's not going to count against you either.

For an infuriating reminder of how it all works - or doesn't work - ask one of the qualified candidates about her experience in the process.

Meet Jodi Lobel.

She is one of the 57 candidates for 12 open slots on Common Pleas Court. Some of these candidates are worthy. Others aren't, and are just hoping for an easy shot at the bench.

Ask prosecutors, judges, and defense lawyers, and they will tell you that Lobel is an excellent candidate - among the best.

She's got a resumé of reform, and a reputation for smarts and fairness. She's been a civil servant for more than two decades. She worked her way up the prosecution ranks putting away murderers, and was the first and only woman to head the district attorney's trial division.

Then, in 2010, as chief of the charging unit, she led Seth Williams' efforts to refocus the office on the strongest cases and the most serious offenders. She also helped build diversionary programs for misdemeanor crimes that clogged the system, including busts for small amounts of marijuana.

In short, she's got a solid record and isn't going to wind up in handcuffs. And that means a lot in a city that has seen so many judges booted from the bench.

From Traffic Court to the Supreme Court, we've seen judges fixing cases, fixing tickets, sending dirty selfies, and trading porn. Those people wore black robes.

Here's Lobel's pitch: She's a public servant at heart, she says. She wants to stay one.

"I want to better myself and better the community, and use my skills and experience in the process," she told me.

So, in February, with support and encouragement from peers, she decided to step down from her city job and run - run on the hope of a good ballot spot.

"I thought the risk was tempered by the amount of support I had," Lobel told me Tuesday.

That was a huge risk.

In March, at the Harrisburg lottery that decides ballot position, she drew a high number: 40.

Throw all that other stuff out the window. Ballot position is everything. The judges will be picked down the line by a small number of voters, most of whom know little about the candidates.

Not wanting to back candidates with no shot - and having to thread the needles of race, gender, and politics - the Democratic City Committee endorsed a dozen candidates, including two Commons Pleas Court and one Municpal Court top-slotters who would go on to be voted "not recommended" by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

The committee endorsed the lottery's winner, Scott DiClaudio, who has a history of disciplinary admonitions and was cited for violating the rules of professional conduct in 2011 for mishandling a client's appeal.

Goodnight, Jodi.

"A slight chance" was how her campaign manager, Billy Miller, assessed her chances Monday.

That slight chance depends on money.

With a mayor's race and City Council seats at the top of the ticket - which means many outstretched hands to pay for support - Miller estimates it would cost Lobel between $250,000 and $350,000 to win with her ballot position.

Miller, a veteran political operative, said that price would include about $20,000 a pop to the field directors of mayoral candidates to get onto their Election Day ballots. Then thousands more to other political field operatives. Then poll workers and media and advertising.

Lobel's campaign doesn't have that kind of cash. And she has ballot position 40.

In this broken roulette wheel of a system, it's a longshot. And that's a shame.

If it doesn't work out this time, Jodi, try again in two more years. Maybe you'll get a better number.

215-854-2759 @MikeNewall