Two vie for Superior Court seat
Two Democrats running for state Superior Court could give new meaning to the phrase “family court” as both hope to fill a vacancy on the panel where a parent once presided.
Common Pleas Judge Robert J. Colville of Allegheny County is the son of a judge and former Allegheny County district attorney; Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Alice Beck Dubow’s mother was the first woman elected to Superior Court in 1983.
Superior Court hears appeals in criminal cases and most civil matters, as well as family matters such as terminating parental rights.
Judge Dubow has served as a trial judge since 2007. She’d previously been a lawyer for the city of Philadelphia and for Drexel University. She said her criminal court experience gives her an edge: “That’s really important experience,” given that “a huge portion of the Superior Court’s docket is criminal cases.”
She added that in November, “I believe I’m more electable than Judge Colville because I am a woman.”
Women have won seven of eight races for Superior Court judgeships since 2007, and the lone Republican this year is a man: Common Pleas Judge Emil Giordano of Northampton County.
Judge Colville has been a judge since 2000. While he has handled juvenile criminal matters, his focus has been on civil cases. He acknowledged that on criminal matters, “I’ll need to make an effort to learn quickly.”
But he noted he was the only candidate rated “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. (Judge Dubow and Judge Giordano are rated “recommended.”) He also touted his work on bodies such as the Court of Judicial Discipline, which tries judges for ethics violations.
“When you look at the depth and breadth of our experience, there are marked differences,” he said.
Locally, Judge Colville may be best known for upholding a labor panel’s decision to ease the residency requirement for Pittsburgh police. The city has appealed that decision.
As for whether Judge Dubow’s gender could help Democrats in November, he said, “I think voters want the best qualified candidate.”
Judge Colville has been backed by labor organizations including the state AFL-CIO. Judge Dubow’s supporters include LGBT, or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, groups and Philadelphia public-safety unions.
Judge Colville has refused campaign contributions during the primary, calling money “a corrosive influence” in politics.
“I want to be able to sleep at night,” Judge Colville said, though he hasn’t decided how he’d finance a general election campaign.
Judge Dubow has been raising money, and had $103,304 in late March; $50,000 of that came from a cousin who is a Broadway producer.
Judge Dubow said contributions helped pay to raise voter awareness: “It’s important to help them be informed.”