Allegheny County Bar Association Announces Final Five Judiciary Ratings For Candidates Running in May 19th Primary
Ratings for 22 other candidates were released
on April 2, 2009
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – April 23, 2009. The Allegheny County Bar Association today announced that its Judiciary Committee has released its final five ratings for the following individuals running for a judgeship in the primary election on May 19. Four of the five candidates accepted an invitation to be interviewed by the Committee. The fifth candidate, Jennifer Satler, did not respond and was rated based on information gathered by the committee. According to the bylaws of the Judiciary Committee, the Committee must rate all candidates running for the Court of Common Pleas, whether they have requested an interview and rating or not. Today’s release follows the press release dated April 2, 2009 which listed the Judiciary Committee’s ratings for 22 other candidates who have been interviewed by the Judiciary Committee, and who reside in Allegheny County or have an office in Allegheny County. These individuals are seeking a seat on the bench of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Superior Court, the PA Commonwealth Court or the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
In the 2009 Pennsylvania Primary Elections, voters will be selecting candidates for the following judicial positions: One (1) PA Supreme Court Justice; three (3) judges on the PA Superior Court; two (2) judges for the PA Commonwealth Court; and five (5) judges on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
According to Jay Blechman, President of the Allegheny County Bar Association, “The bar association has the obligation to the citizens of Allegheny County to provide as much information as possible to help voters make informed choices when they select candidates for judicial office. We are pleased with the number of candidates who accepted the opportunity to meet with and be interviewed by our Judiciary Committee.”
The Committee has given the following ratings to the final five candidates:
Name__________________Court________________Rating_________
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Hon. Cheryl Lynn Allen Supreme Court of PA Highly Recommended
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Hon. Judith Olson Superior Court of PA Highly Recommended
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
| Hon. Patricia A. McCullough | Commonwealth | Not Recommended at this Time |
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
| Joseph V. Luvara | Court of Common Pleas | Unqualified |
| Jennifer Satler | Court of Common Pleas | Unqualified |
The judicial ratings of the other 22 candidates as released on April 2, 2009 are as follows:
Name_______________________Court__________________Rating___
| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | ||
| Hon. Joan Orie Melvin | Supreme Court of PA | Highly Recommended |
| Superior Court of Pennsylvania | ||
| Kevin F. McCarthy | Superior Court of PA | Highly Recommended |
| Hon. Robert J. Colville | Superior Court of PA | Highly Recommended |
| Templeton Smith, Jr. | Superior Court of PA | Highly Recommended |
| Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania | ||
| Daniel K. Bricmont | Commonwealth | Highly Recommended |
| Michael D. Sherman | Commonwealth | Highly Recommended |
| Alfonso Frioni, Jr. | Commonwealth | Recommended |
| Linda S. Judson | Commonwealth | Not Recommended at this time |
| Barbara Behrend Ernsberger |
Commonwealth | Unqualified |
| Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas | ||
| Alexander P. Bicket | Court of Common Pleas | Highly Recommended |
| Philip A. Ignelzi | Court of Common Pleas | Highly Recommended |
| Hugh F. McGough | Court of Common Pleas | Highly Recommended |
| Hon. Joseph K. Williams, III |
Court of Common Pleas | Highly Recommended |
| Hon. Susan Evashavik Dilucente | Court of Common Pleas | Recommended |
| Arnold I. Klein | Court of Common Pleas | Recommended |
| Michael F. Marmo | Court of Common Pleas | Recommended |
| Michael S. Sherman | Court of Common Pleas | Recommended |
| Leahtines Williams-Duncan | Court of Common Pleas | Recommended |
| Hon. Carolyn Saldari Bengel | Court of Common Pleas | Not Recommended at this time |
| Jeffrey K. Eisenberg | Court of Common Pleas | Not Recommended at this time |
| Donald Walko | Court of Common Pleas | Not Recommended at this time |
| Michelle Zappala Peck | Court of Common Pleas | Not Recommended at this time |
Each candidate is evaluated in the areas of temperament, experience in the field of law, academic achievement, honesty and integrity, reputation, general community interest and contributions to the profession.
The 24-member Judiciary Committee is elected at large by the 6,600-member Bar Association.
Explanation of Ratings:
Highly Recommended
The candidate:
- Exhibits pre-eminence in the law by way of outstanding legal ability and a wide range of experience, either in a specialized field of law or a more varied practice, and has a reputation in the legal community as standing at the top of his or her profession.
- Possesses the highest reputation for integrity and temperament.
- Exhibits outstanding citizenship by way of community and professional contributions.
- Is an exceptional individual who will enhance or has enhanced the competence, dignity and public perception of the bench.
Recommended
The candidate possesses the highest reputation for integrity and the legal ability, experience and temperament to excel as a judge of the court for which he or she is a candidate.
Not recommended at this time
The candidate’s legal ability, experience and reputation indicate that, at some future time in his or her legal career, he or she may have the potential to excel as a judge, but the candidate is not yet at that stage.
Unqualified
The candidate does not now possess and is not likely to acquire the ability, reputation, or temperament necessary for a judicial position.
Contacts:
Nancy L. Heilman, Esquire
Chair
Judiciary Committee
412-297-4900
Jay A. Blechman
President
Allegheny County Bar Association
412-263-3700
Tom Loftus
Allegheny County Bar Association
412-402-6620
Chartered in 1870 and headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, The Allegheny County Bar Association is a professional organization with more than 6,600 member attorneys, judges, magisterial district judges, legal administrators and paralegals.
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