Lawyers say Whelan is ‘well qualified’ for county judge

MEDIA >> A poll of the Delaware County Bar Association elicited favorable views of current District Attorney Jack Whelan as a candidate for judge on the county’s court of common pleas.

Of the 400 ballots returned from the approximately 1,200 members, Whelan, a Republican, was deemed well qualified for a county judgeship on 338 ballots, according to the plebiscite released on April 28. “Well qualified” is the highest rating a candidate can receive.

Another 34 members said Whelan was qualified, while 16 said he could not be recommended at this current time and 14 had no opinion of him.

“It’s an honor to receive that type of response. You look to your colleagues for feedback on your performance, and I’m honored they found me well qualified,” said Whelan.

Whelan is a second-term district attorney, first elected in 2011 and again in 2015 and was a county councilman and Ridley Township commissioner prior to that. Limited in his role as D.A. by term limits, he said serving as a judge provides an opportunity to “further serve the residents of Delaware County” impartially and fair.

Democratic candidate Kelly Eckel chose not to participate in the plebiscite, calling the process political and that it favors “local popularity”.

“I declined to participate in a plebiscite process that, in the past, has advised voters incorrectly as to the qualifications of judicial candidates; I prefer to allow my credentials and experience, both as a practitioner and arbitrator, to be the best guide to voters as to my qualifications to serve as a judge in their court,” Eckle said.

Eckel is a partner with the Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris, LLP where she has experience in commercial fraud, contracts and business tort cases. She is also an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and has served as a litigator throughout the country in her 20 years in the profession.

While the organization does not endorse candidates, the plebiscite is conducted as “a service to our members and the general public,” said bar association Executive Director Bill Baldwin.

Although the results of the plebiscite were from onethird of the ballots sent out, Baldwin said a response rate of 30-40 percent is typical for polling members.

Common pleas court judges are elected to 10year terms.

The primary election is May 16.