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All of Allegheny County, PA May 21, 2013 Election
Judge; Court of Common Pleas; District 5; Democratic Party Voter Information

10 Year Term.

This contest will only appear on Democratic party ballots.

Candidates (Vote for 4)
Click on highlighted name for additional information supplied by candidate. Contact non-highlighted candidates and encourage them to provide information for voters.

Mark V. Tranquilli Click here for more information about this candidate 49,744 votes 13.92%

  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Prosecuting Attorney
  • Wife Kristie and Three Children, Lucas, Marcus, and Livia
  • Allegheny College 1989
  • Univeristy of Pittsburgh Law School, 1992
  • 20-yr Veteran prosecutor and Deputy to District Attorney Zappala
  • Prosecuted Commonwealth vs Poplawski
  • Center for Victims of Crime, Board Member
Priorities:
  • Honesty and Integrity
  • Enhance competency, dignity, and public perception of court
  • Steering youth down right path
Jennifer Satler Click here for more information about this candidate 48,201 votes 13.49%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney and adjunct professor
  • Bryn Mawr College, BA, 1997
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JD, 2000
Priorities:
  • Ensure a fair and efficient process for all parties involved in the justice system
  • Work to protect our families, our veterans, and all those who come before the court
  • Help reduce postponements and lag time between court dates so justice is served expediently
Paul E. Cozza Click here for more information about this candidate 39,709 votes 11.11%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
  • 1982, Duquesne University, B.A.
  • 1990, Duquesne University, J.D.
Priorities:
  • To use my judicial and legal experience in a way that best serves the people of Allegheny County
  • To continue to serve on the Court of Common Pleas in a fair and impartial manner
  • To continue to work with troubled youth so that they can return to the right path
Eleanor Bush Click here for more information about this candidate 35,181 votes 9.85%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney PA Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network
  • B.A., Yale University, 1982
  • J.D., Yale Law School, 1988
  • M.P.P.M., Yale School of Management, 1988
Priorities:
  • To serve on Family Court + contributing my knowledge and experience from a legal career focused on children and families
  • To promote public confidence and trust in the justice system
  • To ensure that all participants in court proceedings are treated with dignity and respect
PJ Murray Click here for more information about this candidate 32,970 votes 9.23%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
  • 1985. U of Pittsburgh, B.S
  • 1988, Duquesne, J.D
Priorities:
  • Making fair and legally correct decisions
  • Ensuring that each case is handled so that all parties have equal access to the court
  • Ensuring there is equal justice under the law
Patrick Connelly Click here for more information about this candidate 32,781 votes 9.17%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney
  • Boston College, 1990
  • West Virginia College of Law, 1994
  • Partner, Summers McDonnell Hudock Guthrie & Skeel
  • Over 18 years of civil litigation experience
  • Chairman, City of Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board
  • Solicitor, Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade
Priorities:
  • Upholding the Law
  • Modernizing the Court System
  • Listening to both sides without prejudice before making a decision
Barbara Behrend-Ernsberger Click here for more information about this candidate 26,872 votes 7.52%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: Law Partner, Behrend & Ernsberger, P.C.
  • 1973, University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Cum Laude
  • 1976, Duquesne University of Law, J.D.
Rosemary Crawford Click here for more information about this candidate 20,987 votes 5.87%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee
  • 1989 Georgetown Law, JD
  • 1982 Rhodes College BA
Priorities:
  • Fairness
  • Impartial
  • Good Judicial Temperament
Bill Ward Click here for more information about this candidate 20,907 votes 5.85%
  • Party: Republican, Democratic
  • Occupation: : Judge, Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County, PA
  • 1973, College of the Holy Cross, B.A. cum laude, History
  • 1977 Temple University School of Law, J.D.
Priorities:
  • Continue my work as a Judge hearing cases in the Juvenile Section of the Family Division
  • Continue my work as a Judge presiding in the Veterans Court of the Criminal Division
  • Work with the Mental Health & Justice Advisory Comm. to identify, divert & treat juvenile offenders with autism & pervasive developmental disorders
Marvin Leibowitz Click here for more information about this candidate 15,750 votes 4.41%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney
  • Temple, BA History and Education
  • Temple, 30 credits towards MA History
  • Widener University School of Law, JD
Priorities:
  • Everyone is entitled to equal justice and equal protection under the law
  • Diversity is important in hiring and contractual decisions. Women and minorities should be given equal opportunity for employment
  • I intend to make changes in the procedures of the Common Pleas Court to allow more efficiency and fairness to litig
Marcia L. Cooper Click here for more information about this candidate 13,797 votes 3.86%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Staff Attorney, KidsVoice
  • 1984, Mt. Holyoke College, B.A., 1989
  • 1989, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.
Priorities:
  • Fairness and protecting the rights of all citizens
  • To bring common sense to the bench
  • To ensure that all citizens have access to a fair and impartial courtroom
Joe Luvara Click here for more information about this candidate 11,037 votes 3.09%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Managing Partner of Flaherty Luvara Law Group, LLP
  • 1977, Marquette University, BS, BS BA
  • 1984 Western State University College of Law, JD
  • 1996 Duquesne University Law School, JD
Priorities:
  • Ensuring Voter Rights
  • Increasing Adoption Placement of Children
  • Increasing literacy and the testing of children for dyslexia and other developmental needs
Marc Daffner Click here for more information about this candidate 9,379 votes 2.62%
  • Party: Democratic
  • Occupation: Attorney
  • 1990 University of Rochester, B.A. Political Science, minor in Economics
  • 1993 University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.
Priorities:
  • To provide a fair, impartial and knowledgeable forum for individuals in legal matters which come before the court
  • To render decisions only after careful deliberation and research of the law applicable to the particular case which is pending
  • To enhance our system of justice in Allegheny County and provide meaningful and efficient proceedings to all involved.

Basic candidate data supplied by the Secretary of State. Order of candidates is random and changes daily.
  News and Analysis

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Created: July 8, 2013 11:53 PDT
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