Supreme choices ...

Donohue, Lazarus and Wecht for the Democrats

On May 19, Pennsylvania voters will nominate candidates for a host of offices, but none higher than the state Supreme Court. Even the posts of mayor in Philadelphia and Allegheny County executive, both on the ballot this year, do not have the impact of the seven justices of Pennsylvania’s top court.

Yet people know little about the candidates and less about the court. Pennsylvania, it’s time to bone up.

The Supreme Court, the oldest appellate court in the nation, hears appeals from Superior Court and Commonwealth Court. It also has committees and boards that write and enforce rules for judges and attorneys.

It would be critical enough if voters in November were electing one justice. But due to a confluence of circumstances — the retirement of Chief Justice Ronald Castille, the conviction of Justice Joan Orie Melvin for using state resources for campaigning and the resignation of Justice Seamus McCaffery after exchanging pornographic emails — Pennsylvanians will elect three justices in 2015.

All that begins with the primary, when Democrats and Republicans will choose three nominees from their party’s list of six contenders.

Among the Democratic candidates are: Kevin M. Dougherty, 52, administrative judge of the Trial Division in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; John Foradora, 48, the Common Pleas judge in Jefferson County since 2002; and Dwayne Woodruff of McCandless, 58, an Allegheny County judge since 2006.

In interviews with Post-Gazette editorial writers, they displayed professional qualities that reflected substantial experience on the bench. But the following Democrats, all Superior Court judges, are a cut above and have earned our endorsement:

Christine L. Donohue. On Superior Court for seven years, Judge Donohue, 62, of Point Breeze was an attorney for 27 years. With extensive civil trial and appellate court experience, she was listed in Best Lawyers in America. While on Superior Court, she served on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court and on the Court of Judicial Discipline. Rated “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Judge Donohue teaches lawyers and judges about judicial ethics. She takes pride in the Superior Court holding sessions away from the major cities and we were impressed by her desire to bring the judges’ work closer to the people — something she’d like the Supreme Court to do.

Anne E. Lazarus. A member of the Superior Court since 2010, Judge Lazarus, 62, of Philadelphia was a lawyer for 15 years, providing counsel for Philadelphia Orphans Court and working in her firm’s estates department. A Common Pleas judge for 19 years, she spent time in criminal and civil courts. In 2010 she was appointed to the Judicial Conduct Board, eventually serving as chair; while there she helped develop new rules of conduct for the state’s judges. Judge Lazarus has taught a course on courtroom tactics to lawyers and civics to 10th-graders. “Highly recommended” by the bar, she puts a premium on ethics, saying, “When you put on that black robe, you have to be different, you have to be better. Ethics must come from the top down.”

David N. Wecht. On Superior Court since 2011, Judge Wecht, 52, of Indiana Township was a practicing attorney for 14 years and was elected the county’s register of wills. In 2003 he became a judge on Common Pleas Court and created the “one family, one judge” program to provide consistency for families that make repeat visits. Judge Wecht is a big believer in strong ethics and transparency, and the Post-Gazette was impressed by his commitment to curb judicial misconduct. He favors a ban on gifts to judges, tougher anti-nepotism rules and public broadcasts of court sessions. He is “highly recommended” by the state bar.