A Philadelphia Inquirer editorial criticizing the recent "request" by the Philadelphia Democratic Party for $10,000 contributions from judges standing for retention this year, strongly condemns the electoral system.  "By approaching sitting judges for campaign contributions, party officials are engaging in what the state's longtime court-reform group, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, calls "a prime example of how money and politics pollute the process of electing judges."  The editorial specifically attacks the way the electoral system essentially requires fundraising from those most likely to appear in court, noting that it creates "at the least, an impression among the public that justice is for sale."
 
The editorial closes with the hope that instances like this will further spur the move for reform: "the whole breakfast episode should at least help motivate some state lawmakers - their efforts supported by Gov. Corbett - who are pushing for the merit-based appointment of appellate-court judges as a first step in breaking the link between judges and campaign cash."  We hope this prediction proves accurate and that Pennsylvanians will soon have the opportunity to decide whether they want to change the way we select appellate court judges.