Pennsylvania judicial news
From Judgepedia
News about or affecting the judiciary in Pennsylvania.
New Luzerne County Judge confirmed
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Joseph M. Cosgrove was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate to a seat on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Cosgrove previously worked as an attorney. He will replace Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., who resigned in March of 2009 due to corruption charges.[1]
Rehkamp suspended due to domestic violence
Pennsylvania: Judge Joseph Rehkamp was charged with simple assault and harassment for pushing and choking his wife. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court suspended him from duty on January 20, 2010. He had been serving as temporary judge in Luzerne County.[1]
Interim judge arrested for assault
Pennsylvania: Joseph Rehkamp, a Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge for Perry and Juniata Counties and temporary judge in Luzerne County, was arrested on January 17, 2010 after assaulting and harassing his wife. He was arraigned before Judge Donald L. Whittaker and then released on his own recognizance. Luzerne County judges have not yet decided how this will effect Judge Rehkamp's assignments.[1]
Failed candidate in local judge race appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
Uniontown, Pennsylvania: Robert Pritchard Sr. is appealing the results of a local Pennsylvania judgeship election to the U.S. Supreme Court after receiving only 63 of 3,920 votes. He wants his election results and others dating back to 2002 nullified with new elections held to replace them.[1]
Republican Joan Orie Melvin wins a seat on Pennsylvania Supreme Court
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidate, Republican Joan Orie Melvin, has won a seat on the court, besting Democratic candidate Jack Panella.[1]
- Melvin: 933,133 (53.2%)
- Panella: 819,532 (46.8%)
The hotly-contested race set a new record for campaign fundraising. Panella raised more than $2.35 million through October 19.[2]
Victor Orie Melvin spent much less than Panella. Her fundraising total through mid-October was $733,948.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court race in a dead heat
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: A poll released on October 27 suggests that support for Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidates Joan Orie Melvin and Jack Panella is about even, heading into the November 3 vote.[1]
A poll of 529 registered voters conducted from October 20-25 by Franklin & Marshall College for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WTAE-TV had Orie Melvin at 22%, Panella at 20% and undecideds at 54%. The same poll found that 60% of those surveyed believe the state is heading in the wrong direction.[1]
There will be four Republicans on the 7-seat Pennsylvania Supreme Court if Orie Melvin wins, and four Democrats if Panella wins. This has led to partisan pitches on behalf of the candidates. Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati wrote to Republicans on behalf of Orie Melvin, saying, "Control of the Supreme Court is on the ballot this year, and you know the courts play a key role in finalizing redistricting maps that will set the political landscape for the next decade."[2] Abe Amoros, spokesman for the Democratic State Committee, said, "The last time, it was the Republicans who controlled the state Supreme Court. This year, we are looking at a 4-3 majority when Jack Panella wins, which will give us some hope at redistricting."[2]
The Pennsylvania Constitution gives each party two seats at the negotiating table when district boundaries are redrawn after the 2010 census. The state's highest court is expected to appoint a tie-breaker, which is why the court's partisan balance is of interest to both parties.[2]
Stay of execution granted for Pennsylvania man
Pennsylvania: On July 20, 2009, Judge David Cercone issued a stay of execution for a Pennsylvania man scheduled to be executed in September of 2009.
The judge ordered the execution of convicted murderer William Wright be postponed to allow his attorneys have to file an appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. A 2008 request for Wright to have a new trial was denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
It will up to the judges of the Third Circuit to review Wright's conviction and to determine if there is enough evidence to grant a new trial. [1]
Federal judge to retire from the bench and join law firm
Pennsylvania: Federal senior judge Bruce Kauffman announced plans to retire from the bench effective July 20, 2009. He was nominated to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Clinton in 1997. From 1980 to 1982 Kauffman served as a justice for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He also spent many years in private practice as an attorney.
Upon leaving the bench, Kauffman will join the firm Elliott Greenleaf as a shareholder and co-chairman of the firm's executive committee. He also plans to devote some of his time to "advocating for an independent and fairly compensated federal and state judiciary". [1]
2009 Supreme Court election
In November of 2009 there will be a partisan election for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The candidates are Superior Court judges Joan Orie Melvin (R) and Jack Panella (D).
References
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The Pennsylvania Project on Judgepedia
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