Your guide to the state's judicial races
What to know before voting for Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court candidates.
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
What is the role?
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. Its seven justices are responsible for deciding constitutional questions and intervening on emergent election issues. Voters will select one new justice this year to fill a vacancy on the court and replace the late Chief Justice Max Baer, who died last year. Democrats hold a 4-2 majority on the court, but the court has deadlocked on several election issues this year.
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Who’s on the ballot and what do I need to know about them?
Democrat 🐴
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Daniel McCafferyMcCaffery is a Superior Court judge, serving on one of the state’s two appellate courts since 2019. Prior to that, the U.S. Army veteran served as a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge, and spent 16 years as a trial attorney.Key facts:
McCaffery has promised to protect abortion access and voting rights if elected to the court.
He has authored more than 600 opinions while serving on the Superior Court.
He is “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and was endorsed by the Working Families Party.
Republican 🐘
Carolyn CarluccioCarluccio is the first female president judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. She was unanimously elected to that position by the county’s other judges and has been on the bench for 13 years. She was retained for another 10-year term in 2019.Key facts:
She was the first-ever female chief public defender in Montgomery County, as well as a number of other roles representing Montco. She also served as a U.S. assistant district attorney.
She said she will be a strong defender of the constitution and will “apply the rule as it is written,” after the court was criticized by Republicans for overreaching its judicial powers during the COVID-19 pandemic on mail voting issues.
She is “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and endorsed by the PA Pro-Life Federation.
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JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT (Statewide)
The 15-judge Superior Court, which has been hearing appeals for 128 years, is the venue for decisions being appealed from civil or criminal cases in one of the county courts of common pleas. Those appeals are often heard by three-judge panels sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh. Voters can select two candidates.
Who’s on the ballot and what should I know about them?
Democrat 🐴
Jill BeckBeck, of Allegheny County, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2006. She has been a commercial litigation lawyer since 2019 for the law firm Blank Rome and made an unsuccessful bid for Superior Court in 2021. Beck spent a decade as a law clerk for the state’s Superior Court and Supreme Court.Key facts:
Beck is endorsed by several statewide organized labor groups and Planned Parenthood’s political action committee.
Beck worked for nonprofits helping juveniles adjudicated as delinquent before practicing law.
She is rated “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Timika LaneLane, of Philadelphia, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2003. She won the primary election for Superior Court in 2021 but then lost the general election. Lane has been a judge on Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas since 2014.Key facts:
She is endorsed by more than 40 local, state, and federal elected officials, several statewide organized labor groups, and Planned Parenthood’s political action committee.
She previously worked as a public school teacher, public defender, and staff attorney in the state Senate.
She is rated “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Republican 🐘
Maria BattistaBattista, of Clarion County, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1993. She is campaigning on more than 15 years of legal experience, having worked as an assistant district attorney and as counsel for the state Department of Health and Department of State. She has also taught courses at Clarion University.Key facts:
Battista is vice president for state and federal contracts for The Judge Group, a consulting firm in Wayne.
She is endorsed by ChamberPAC, the political action committee for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
She’s rated “not recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Harry F. Smail Jr.Smail, of Westmoreland County, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1997. He was appointed in 2014 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett to be a judge on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas and won a full 10-year term in 2015. Smail worked as a probation officer in Westmoreland County before getting his law degree.Key facts:
Smail touts on his campaign website rulings he made in 2020 to set aside undated and unsigned mail ballots.
He is by ChamberPAC, the political action committee for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
He is rated “recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
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JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT (Statewide)
Who’s on the ballot and what do I need to know about them?
Democrat 🐴
Matt WolfWolf, of Philadelphia, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1994. He serves as the supervising civil judge in Philadelphia’s Municipal Court, where he has worked on an eviction diversion program to settle disputes between landlords and tenants. Wolf won a six-year term in 2017, after 25 years of legal practice.Key facts:
Wolf spent 20 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, serving in the Judge Advocate General Corps, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is endorsed by several statewide organized labor groups and Planned Parenthood’s political action committee.
He is rated “recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Republican 🐘
Megan MartinMartin, of Cumberland County, was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1995. Martin served for a decade as the secretary and parliamentarian for the state Senate, advising Republican legislators who control the chamber. She left that post in late 2022 to enter the race for Commonwealth Court. She previously worked as a deputy general counsel for then-Gov. Tom Corbett.Key facts:
Martin worked as a lawyer for three years for the U.S. Navy.
She was the first and only woman to ever serve as the Pennsylvania Senate’s parliamentarian.
She is rated “recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Correction
A previous version of this story incorrectly identified where McCaffery attended college. He went to Temple University.
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