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Pennsylvania State Government November 6, 2007 Election
Judge; Pennsylvania Superior Court Voter Information

10 Year Term. Salary: $165,342

Results as of Dec 19 9:16am
5661725 Votes Cast
Candidates (Vote for 3)
Click on highlighted name for additional information supplied by candidate. Contact non-highlighted candidates and encourage them to provide information for voters.

Christine Donohue Click here for more information about this candidate 1,100,362 votes 19.4%

  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Lawyer
  • Highest possible recommendation for the Superior Court
  • 27 years of trial & appellate courts experience
  • 1974, East Stroudsburg State University, B.A.
  • 1980, Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.
Priorities:
  • Judicial independence is the foundation of a fair and impartial judicial system and one of the pillars of our democracy
  • Decision-making must be free of any external influence (political, social or economic
Jackie Shogan Click here for more information about this candidate 974,748 votes 17.2%
  • Party: Republican
  • Occupation: Attorney with Thorp, Reed & Armstrong, LLP
  • Duke University School of Law , J.D. (high honors, Order of the Coif)
  • Extensive experience in civil, administrative and criminal law
  • Teaches appellate practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • Certified Arbitrator and Mediator
  • Former nurse and nurse educator
  • Recommended by the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations
Priorities:
  • Judges must avoid even the appearance of impropriety, which includes the appearance of lacking judicial independence
  • There needs to be more openess and transparency in the operations of our courts.
Cheryl Lynn Allen Click here for more information about this candidate 970,081 votes 17.1%
  • Party: Republican
  • Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
  • The ONLY Republican candidate HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for ascension to Superior Court
  • Rated HIGHLY QUALIFIED by the Allegheny County Bar Association
  • Judicial Experience: 17 Years. Previously a lawyer for 15 years.
  • Recipient of more than 35 awards for Community Service and Professional Achievements
  • PA Bar states, "She has a well-earned reputation as a productive, principled and dedicated jurist who decides cases with fairness and impartiality."
  • Earned Juris Doctor degree from The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and her Bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University
Priorities:
  • To uphold the Constitutions and law and NOT legislate from the bench
  • Judicial independence, a strict constructionist; transparency in the court system
  • Be devoted to public service and a good steward of taxpayer funds
Ron Folino Click here for more information about this candidate 929,552 votes 16.4%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Common Pleas Court Judge
  • Penn State University, magna cum laude
  • Dickinson School of Law, honor society
  • 14 years experience as a judge
  • 13 years experience as a lawyer prior
  • rated #1 in impartiality out of 70 state and federal judges in an independent Bar Association survey
  • #1 in judicial temperament, #3 in legal ability, and #2 in diligence
Priorities:
  • To continue to deliver fair and impartial justice to all persons
  • Encourage Superior Court to publish more written opinions explaining its decisions
  • Promote confidence in the judiciay through diligence and competence
John Milton Younge Click here for more information about this candidate 852,537 votes 15.1%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas
  • 10 years as Trial judge with Court of Common Pleas
  • 10 years of service at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Dep. Exec. Director and General Counsel
  • 1977, Boston University, B.S
  • 1981, Howard University School of Law, J.D.
Priorities:
  • Judges need the independence to fairly interpret the constitution and resolve disputes without political interference
  • Judges must have both decisional independence and institutional independence
  • Decisional independence means the freedom to issue decisions that may be constitutionally sound but politically unpopular.
Bruce F. Bratton Click here for more information about this candidate 834,445 votes 14.7%
  • Party: Republican
  • Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas
  • Penn State grad
  • Served his country in Vietnam
  • 25 years broad legal experience
  • 11 years as Solicitor to Dauphin County Controller
  • Served as Susquehanna Twp. Supervisor
  • Nominated to Court by Tom Ridge in 2001
Priorities:
  • I have a rather conservative view on most matters, particularly with regard to the role of a judge
  • I believe a judge does not serve a policy-making function and should, therefore, restrict himself or herself to interpreting and applying the law a
  • A judge is to put aside all personally held beliefs and decide the cases which come before him or her by applying the law to the facts and do so impar

Basic candidate data supplied by the Secretary of State. All candidates have been invited to supply additional information to Smart Voter. Order of candidates is random and changes daily.
  Campaign Finance Data

State of Pennsylvania

Nonpartisan Information

PA Bar Association

Pennsylvanians For Modern Courts League of Women Voters Justice At Stake
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Created: December 19, 2007 17:43 PST
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