City voters pick 12 judges to run for Court of Common Pleas, 3 for Municipal Court
Philadelphia advanced 15 judges closer to the city benches Tuesday - including several who were previously filling vacancies, and one with a disciplinary record.
Philadelphia advanced 15 judges closer to the city benches Tuesday - including several who were previously filling vacancies, and one with a disciplinary record.
The winners of the Democratic primary - most of whom are expected to win the general election - will make up close to 10 percent of the bench in an election year with many vacancies.
Voters had to choose from 52 names on the ballot - a record number in recent history - after a rush of candidates signed up for a shot this year.
The city's system for electing judges has long been criticized for its reliance on luck (ballot positions are randomly drawn), influence (the Democratic Party's endorsement can make a big difference), and money (ward leaders distribute sample ballots on Election Day, based partly on who pays for them).
Scott DiClaudio, a criminal defense lawyer who pulled the number-one ballot position, got the Democratic Party backing and won Tuesday.
DiClaudio was rated "not recommended" by the bar. He received one year of probation in 2011 for mishandling a client's appeal several years earlier.
Also victorious Tuesday were the bar's three "highly recommended" candidates: Democrats Abbe Fletman, Chris Mallios, and Kai Scott. Fletman is a judge on Common Pleas Court. She was appointed to fill a vacancy but had to run to remain on the bench, as did Judge Kenneth Powell and Michael Fanning, both of whom won. Municipal Court Judge Stephanie Sawyer, who is running to be on the Common Pleas bench this year, was barely hanging on to the 12th and final seat around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The system of electing judges has some quirky rules. A person who wants to run need only be 21, have passed the bar exam, and be a resident of Philadelphia. Candidates can also run for both Common Pleas and Municipal Courts. Candidates who by chance win both seats can pick which one they want; Common Pleas has a slightly higher paycheck.
Candidates can also run as Democrats and Republicans to make the process less partisan in the highly Democratic city.
The other Court of Common Pleas primary winners, according to unofficial results, are Democrats Tracy B. Roman, Lyris Younge, Daine Grey Jr., Rainy Papademetriou, and Mia Roberts Perez. Vincent Furlong won as a Republican. Primary winners for Municipal Court are Democrats Sharon Williams Losier, Joffie C. Pittman, and Christine Hope, who also won as a Republican.
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