Upcoming judicial races in Pa. are important

Here’s a little Pennsylvania political pop quiz: How many seats on the state Supreme Court are up for grabs on the November ballot?

It’s been over 300 years since three seats on the state Supreme Court were on the ballot at the same time.

How many candidates are seeking them?

Can you name one of them?

How many of you took an 0-fer? We are not surprised. The guess here is that you have lots of company in Pennsylvania, which clings to the antiquated notion of putting judges on the state’s highest court through the political process.

Yes, it does allow voters to exercise their franchise. And too often we get the court that process specializes in – political power players and those able to raise obscene amounts of money - rather than those most qualified to sit on the bench.

Let’s review the circumstances that created this rare occurrence, with seven candidates seeking to fill three vacant seats on the state’s highest court.

Justice Joan Orie Melvin was last famously seen sporting a pair of handcuffs, while being admonished by a fellow judge after she was convicted of using her state-paid staff to work on her political campaigns. Yes, that would certainly qualify as another argument why we should not be electing judges.

Then there is Justice Seamus McCaffery. Or perhaps more accurately referred to as former Justice McCaffery. He bailed from the bench after being embroiled in the state’s ugly pornographic email controversy. He retired instead of subjecting himself – and those racy emails – to an ethics probe.

Of course, McCaffery’s exit did not put an end to “Porn-Gate” in Harrisburg. Attorney General Kathleen Kate, on the hook for criminal charges of leaking grand jury information, believes she’s the target of a cabal of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials, all of whom are intent on making sure she does not release the treasure trove of questionable emails she uncovered during a review of the way Tom Corbett’s A.G.’s office handled the Jerry Sandusky investigation. If she goes down, she’s not going alone, as Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin can attest. This week he apologized for his role in the seamy email transactions after Kane released emails linked to his account.

In short, the highest court in Pennsylvania has too often resorted to the lowest common denominator when it comes to its personal and public behavior.

At least Chief Justice Ron Castille, whose seat also will be filled in a couple of weeks, is leaving for a legitimate reason. He reached age 70, the state’s mandatory retirement age for justices.

This is something of a first for Pennsylvania. No, unfortunately we’re not referring to public officials exiting in shameful conditions. You have to go back more than 300 years to find the last time three vacancies were on the ballot at the same time.

None of which, of course, speaks of just how important these jobs are. One of their tasks will be to sign off on the next redistricting plan for the state Legislature. It’s the job of the seven-member panel to rule on these always prickly carvings of new district boundaries when the Legislature can’t agree.

Anyone want to bet whether this falls in their lap again? Yeah, we thought so.

Do you have a problem with Voter ID efforts? That also likely will at some point wind up back before the Supreme Court.

Voters can start that process by learning about the candidates and casting their ballots on Nov. 3.

You might say it’s “Supremely” important.

Voters can start that process by learning about the candidates and casting their ballots on Nov. 3.