Pennsylvania's judicial elections matter. Here's why.
By PETER HALL
Penn Capital-Star
Between the intense campaigns of the midterm and presidential elections, statewide races for Pennsylvania’s appeals courts tend to take a back seat to mayoral and other local elections.
In the wake of sweeping decisions on abortion and affirmative action from the U.S. Supreme Court, the power of the judiciary to alter the daily reality of people’s lives may never have been so clear.
And while state appeals courts have a similar power to decide the law of the land for Pennsylvania, the judges and justices who preside over them are often chosen in elections where only about 20% of voters cast ballots.
In November Pennsylvania voters will choose a new state Supreme Court justice, two Superior Court judges and one Commonwealth Court judge.