News

People walk by the Pennsylvania Judicial Center Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

A voter guide to Pennsylvania's 2021 judicial elections

Thursday, April 8, 2021

By KATIE MEYER, SAM DUNKLAU, and CHRIS POTTER WHYY Yes, there’s another election day just around the corner. It’s May 18. And, in fact, thanks to no-excuse mail ballots, widespread voting is already open. In addition to deciding local races, voters this year will elect a slew of new judges to...

Virginia McMichael of Appellate Law Group

Should Pa. Amend Its Constitution to Elect Appellate Judges by Region

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

BY VIRGINIA HINRICHS MCMICHAEL On Jan. 13, the judiciary committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 13-12 to send to the House floor H.B. 38, a bill that proposes a constitutional amendment to replace statewide elections of appellate court judges with a system of electing appellate...

Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg

Proposed constitutional amendment threatens independence of Pa. appellate courts | Opinion

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

By DEBORAH GROSS and LAUREN P. MCKENNA WHYY A proposed amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution currently making its way through the General Assembly is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Supporters of House Bill 38 say it is intended to give individual Pennsylvanians more of a voice in how statewide...

Former Pa. Supreme Court chief justice: It’s time to change how judges get their jobs | Opinion

Friday, January 29, 2021

By RONALD CASTILLE and ROBERT C. HEIM The Philadelphia Inquirer Our Pennsylvania legislature appears poised to turn a bad idea — electing appellate judges — into an even worse idea — making appellate judge elections regional, instead of statewide. Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary...

Pa. could become a national outlier in how it elects appellate judges. Here’s why experts are worried.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

By MARIE ALBIGES of Spotlight PA The Philadelphia Inquirer | Spotlight PA This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat , a project focused on election...