- See also: 2009 contested judicial election results
While 2009 is generally an "off-year" for elections, there are several state Supreme Court justice elections on the calendar in 2009.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Justice Shirley Abrahamson handily overcame challenger Judge Randy Koschnick on April 7 for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She will be serving her fourth ten-year term on the state's high court.
Louisiana
There was an open seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2009. The seat for the Fourth Supreme Court District of the court opened when justice Chet Traylor retired in May of 2009. The primary election was scheduled for October 17, 2009.
Two candidates for the open seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court qualified for the race. Former executive counsel for Governor Bobby Jindal Jimmy Faircloth lost the election to 4th District judge Marcus Clark. [1][2]
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, voters will elect one Supreme Court justice to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Justice Ralph Cappy. Voters will also elect three Superior Court judges to fill the vacancies created by the mandatory retirement of Richard Klein and by the election of Judges Seamus McCaffrey and Debra Todd to the Supreme Court.[3]
Jane Greenspan was appointed to the Supreme Court seat that will be filled in the November 2009 election in 2008. Traditionally in Pennsylvania, judicial appointees do not run for the seat to which they were appointed, and Greenspan is not a candidate for the seat she currently occupies. Superior Court judges Jack Panella and Joan Orie Melvin are vying for the seat.
References
| Judicial selection in state courts |
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