JUDGES
Justice of the Superior Court
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(Vote for not more than two in your party)
Job Description: The Superior Court hears appeals from many decisions of the courts of common pleas of the Commonwealth. Judges of the Superior Court are also responsible for hearing applications made by the Attorney General and district attorneys under the Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act. The Superior Court is often the final arbiter of legal disputes in Pennsylvania.
Term: 10-year terms
Salary: $165,342
Qualifications: We asked about the candidates’
Education: Education
B. Current Occupation
C. Qualifications for This Office
D. Endorsement by the Bar Association
We asked Candidates for Justice of the Superior Court:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge?
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system?
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city?
Democrats
James M. DeLeon III
Qualifications: No response received.
Answers: No response received.
Christine Donohue
Pittsburgh
Qualifications:
Education: 1974, East Stroudsburg State University, B.A.; 1980, Duquesne University School of Law, Juris Doctor.
Current Occupation: Lawyer
Qualifications for This Office: 26 years of trial and appellate court experience; Listed in: Best Lawyers in America, PA Super Lawyers, Top Lawyers in Pittsburgh; Former Judge, Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.
Endorsement by the Bar Association: Highly Recommended, Judicial Evaluation Commission, Pennsylvania Bar Association
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? I have twenty-six years of courtroom experience. I am listed in “Best Lawyers in America,” “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.” My fairness and integrity have been recognized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which has appointed me to serve on both the Disciplinary Board (which ensures that lawyers follow the ethical rules of our profession) and the Board of Law Examiners (which decides whether aspiring lawyers have the character to warrant admission to the practice of law in Pennsylvania). I was a Judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline which is the statewide court that hears cases against judges accused of unethical conduct in office.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? There is still bias in the court system although it is now usually more subtle. Juries are not necessarily reflective of the community. The pools from which juries are selected should be expanded. Judges should be continuously sensitized by mandatory training to recognize bias and eliminate it. The Judiciary needs to educate the public about how the justice is administered and how the court system operates. The judicial branch of government should be more transparent.
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? On a statewide basis, within the criminal justice system, more emphasis should be placed on the rehabilitation of individuals during their incarceration. Substance abuse treatment and post release follow-up for prevention of relapse should be emphasized.
Web site: http://www.christinedonohue4superiorcourt.com
Ron Folino
Pittsburgh
Qualifications:
Education: 1976, Pennsylvania State, BS magna cum laude; 1981, Dickinson School of Law, JD (Woolsack Honors Society)
Current Occupation: Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Qualifications for This Office: In a Bar Association survey, ranked #1 of all 70 state and federal trial judges
Endorsement by the Bar Association: Yes. Highly recommended.
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? I have been a common pleas court trial judge for nearly 14 years (and an attorney for 13 years before that.) The county bar association rates its judges every four years via an anonymous survey; the results are tabulated by an independent accounting firm. In the most recent survey I was rated number-one overall of all 70 state and federal judges. The qualities considered were: impartiality, legal ability, diligence and temperament.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? Superior Court should produce fewer memorandum opinions and more opinions that are permitted to be cited as binding precedent. Courts must act in ways that will help restore the public’s trust in the judiciary. Meaning no secret meetings between the Supreme Court and legislators; no official actions in the middle of the night where the public is precluded from meaningful participation. A more global reform for the courts generally relates to ensuring appropriate minority representation on juries. In addition, as to the Family Court system, the court should allocate resources so that family cases are not treated like second-tier matters.
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? For persons released from incarceration, a program of thorough monitoring and transitioning into society is needed. As to persons who are incapable of rehabilitation, maximum sentencing is required and no early parole.
Web site: http://www.ronfolino.com
Anne E. Lazarus
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: Temple University School of Law, J.D., 1976, LLM, 1986; SUNY at Stony Brook, B.A., 1972
Current Occupation: Judge, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas (1991 - present).
Qualifications for This Office: Of Counsel, Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP (1990 - 1991); Legal Counsel to Orphans’ Court Division (1980 - 1990).
Endorsement by the Bar Association: Yes, “highly recommended.”
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? For the last 15 years, I have served as a judge in both the criminal and civil divisions of the Common Pleas Bench and I currently serve on the Orphans’ Court. As a judge, I have tried complex civil cases and all types of criminal cases, from misdemeanors to homicide trials. I have coordinated all of the homicide and major trials in Philadelphia for the last 3 years
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? For the last two years, I have served as the Chair of the State Conference of Trial Judges’ Ethics Committee and am proud that I have been rated “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. It is critical that the courts have the full faith of the people of Pennsylvania. There are two reforms that are paramount. I believe we need to ensure adequate funding for our court system to ensure that it can function as a co-equal branch of government. The second is increased disclosure of the operations and decisions of the courts
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? We need to give people opportunities so that they do not feel that crime is their only option. We also need to provide educational and job opportunities to those who are already incarcerated in order to reduce recidivism. I also believe it is possible to limit the access to illegal guns without unduly burdening responsible gun owners.
Web site: http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org
Jimmy Lynn
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: 1992, National Judicial College; 1973, Loyola University School of Law, J.D.; 1970, LaSalle University, B.A.
Current Occupation: 1991-Present, Judge, Common Pleas Court .
Qualifications for This Office: 16 years Trial Judge - almost all court divisions; prosecutor, 3 years; 15 years private practice; Recommended by Pennsylvania Bar Association;
Endorsement by the Bar Association: I have been recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for the Superior Court.
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? 34 years of public and community service prepared me well for a seat on the Superior Court. I have been a judge of the Court of Common Pleas since 1991, as a merit selection of Gov. Bob Casey. I was a lawyer for 18 years. I have a vast experience as a judge (over 30,000 cases) and a lawyer such that I have personally handled every kind of case that would come before the Superior Court.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? The Judicial branch of government must keep a strict independence from influences outside of the law itself. We see a decreasing amount of public respect for judges and the decisions courts make because of political demands that judges, especially appellate judges, have preconceived beliefs about issues that might come before the court. Judicial restraint, which requires that judges defer to legislation as the will of the people unless the law violates the Constitution, helps establish judicial independence.
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? Violent repeat offenders should be imprisoned and removed from society for as long as it takes to establish two goals: the safety and protection of law abiding citizens, and after that is assured, the complete and total rehabilitation of the convicted criminal before re-entering society. That has been my standard whenever I sentenced a violent convicted criminal.
Web site:
http://www.electjudgejimmy.com
Timothy J. McCormick
Greensburg, PA
Qualifications:
Education: Juris Doctor Degree, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 1978; Bachelor of Arts Degree, English, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 1975
Current Occupation: Attorney
Qualifications for This Office: Sole Practitioner, Timothy J. McCormick, Attorney at Law, 2002-Present Solicitor, City of Greensburg, 1990-Present; Partner, Stewart, McCormick, McArdle & Sorice, 1981-2002; Public Defender, Westmoreland Co., 1979-1981.
Endorsement by the Bar Association: I have been recommended to the Superior Court by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? My twenty-eight years of law practice mirrors the workload of the Superior Court. My criminal practice is approximately 50 percent of my workload. The Superior Court’s workload is almost 60 percent criminal cases. My civil and family case workload reflects the same workload on the Superior Court. My clients come from the working families of Pennsylvania, who file most of the appeals. I have been preparing for this job my entire legal career.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? The lack of confidence in our judiciary is unprecedented, even though the quality of our Courts has never been better. The “pay raise” fiasco can never be repeated. The Courts should not be political, but they should be more responsive to the public. The public deserves to know what the courts do, why they do what they do, and who they do it for. The judges need to be in contact more with the public, not to discuss individual cases, but to explain our system of laws.
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? Systemic violence is almost invariably preceded by lack of education, failure to have adequate job opportunities and drug abuse. Violence with weapons cannot be tolerated, and deserves the heavy hand of the law.
Web site: None provided
John Milton Younge
Qualifications: No response received.
Answers: No response received.
Republicans
Cheryl Lynn Allen
Allison Park
Qualifications:
Education: 1969, Penn State, B.S.; 1975, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.
Current Occupation: Judge of Common Pleas Court, Allegheny County, Criminal Division.
Qualifications for This Office: Seventeen years experience sitting as Common Pleas Judge as well as numerous awards for leadership and public service.
Endorsement by the Bar Association: “Highly Recommended” by both the Pennsylvania State Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? I earned a merit appointment to the Court of Common Pleas in 1990 and in the 17 years since have been elected and retained to serve in criminal, civil and juvenile courts. Prior to becoming a judge, I worked as an elementary schoolteacher and as an attorney. I have from my many years of experience, a strong work ethic and understanding of the law which makes we well suited to serve on the Superior Court.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? As a candidate for Superior Court, I believe reform lies with the public - it is imperative that citizens educate themselves and vote for candidates who are educated, experienced and committed to ethical public service.
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? As a current criminal court judge, I obviously believe convicted offenders should be prosecuted and punished. Although I am familiar with the violence which plagues Philadelphia, my role as a judge prohibits political activism and requires me to apply the law as enacted by the legislature. Moreover, I am seeking the office of Superior Court judge, in which my role would be to review the actions of the trial courts statewide and ensure that the law is applied accurately and fairly.
Web site: http://www.CherylAllenforSuperiorCourt.com
Bruce F. Bratton
Qualifications: No response received.
Answers: No response received.
Jacqueline O. Shogan
Murrysville
Qualifications:
Education: Temple University, B.S.N. (summa cum laude), 1975; University of Virginia, M.S.N., 1981; Duke University School of Law, J.D. (high honors), 1990.
Current Occupation: Attorney with Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP.
Qualifications for This Office: Certified Arbitrator and Mediator; Teaches appellate practice at Pitt Law School; President-elect of Neighborhood Legal Services and longstanding community volunteer.
Endorsement by the Bar Association: Yes.
Answers:
1. What in your background prepares you for service as a judge? My legal experiences are diverse and well-suited to the breadth and complexity of issues seen by the Superior Court. I have worked for the federal courts, practiced as a litigator and health law attorney, taught appellate practice and served as an arbitrator and mediator. In addition, I am well prepared for service on this court because of my broad life experiences (including 12 years practicing and teaching nursing), temperament, integrity, work ethic and commitment.
2. What are the most pressing needs for reform in our justice system? One of the most pressing needs is assuring access to qualified legal representation for our indigent population. We must also work to improve the fairness and efficiency of our courts. The law must be faithfully, impartially, and diligently applied by our judges, free from personal bias, interests and outside influences. More openness and transparency in the courts’ non-judicial operations is also needed..
3. What do you recommend happen to help stop repeat offenders and reduce the violence that is plaguing our city? The causes of this problem are complex and must be dealt with comprehensively by elected city officials, law enforcement, and other community leaders. However, sentences even for juvenile offenders should be sufficient to serve as a deterrent and to protect the public while the root causes of this problem are addressed..
Web site:
http://www.ShoganforSuperiorCourt.com
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