Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes to End Partisan Elections for Appellate Judges

On the same day that jury selection began in the trial of a supreme court justice charged with illegal campaign practices, a Pennsylvania legislator introduced a measure that would end partisan elections for appellate judges. The proposal calls for “merit selection” of judges, with a fifteen-member commission screening judicial applicants and nominating the most qualified for appointment by the governor. Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts was instrumental in developing the proposal.