Comments of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts in support of HB 111
Submitted to the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on April 28, 2019
Introduction
With the vote on HB 111 fast approaching, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (PMC) is grateful to have this opportunity to address the value to our Commonwealth of a judicial appointment/merit selection system over money-fueled partisan elections.  We will also respond to the few objections that have been raised to this system of judicial selection.
Why give Pennsylvania’s voters the right to choose appointing appellate judges and justices over electing them in low information, PAC-influenced races?
  1. Merit, Not Money
In Pennsylvania even the most qualified judicial candidates for statewide appellate judgeships are dependent on campaign contributions from individuals and special interest groups with business before the courts. This dependency creates an appearance of impropriety that ultimately undermines public confidence in Pennsylvania’s courts and potentially threatens judicial independence. 
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Comments of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts in opposition of HB 196
​Submitted to the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on April 28, 2019
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (PMC) opposes H.B. 196, a Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to organize judicial elections by multiple districts and further providing for residency requirements.  Under Rep. Diamond’s proposal, the state would be broken into nine Commonwealth Court districts, 15 Superior Court districts and seven Supreme Court districts.

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