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Merit Selection supporters gathered in Harrisburg yesterday for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Lynn Marks and Shira Goodman of PMC and PMCAction were joined by former Superior Court Judge Phyllis W. Beck and representatives of civic groups, business organizations, and lawyers and bar associations in advocating for adoption of Merit Selection for the Pennsylvania appellate courts. A full list of those who presented testimony and copies of written submissions are available on our Report on the Senate Hearing page.

At the beginning of the hearing, Senator Jane Earll, prime sponsor of the Merit Selection legislation, expressed her reasons for supporting judicial selection reform:”I believe a better court, a more diverse court will result in a system that isn’t dependent on money and ballot positions.”

Coalition members testified about the problems inherent in electing judges, particularly the increasing expenses associated with judicial campaigns and the negative perceptions caused by fundraising by judicial candidates.  Marks, executive director of PMC and PMCAction explained, “The current electoral system — with its emphasis on fundraising and campaign prowess — is broken and is undermining public confidence in the judiciary and our courts.  The solution that is best designed to get the most qualified, fair and impartial judges on the appellate bench and to get those juges out of the fundraising business is Merit Selection.”

In addition, coalition partners explained that Merit Selection offers greater opportunities for qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to reach the appellate bench.  Edward Lanza, board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Pennsylvania told the Committee: “We’re persuaded the Merit Selection process would be more likely to elevate qualified minority candidates to the appellate bench.”

Senator Earll and Senator Mary Jo White actively questioned those presenting testimony.  In response to comments that Merit Selection supporters aim to disenfranchise voters, Senator White explained:

I object to that statement about the franchise. I believe in the franchise and so does Sandra Day O’Connor [who is a supporter of Merit Selection]. . . . In my experience, the current system discriminates against people who can’t raise large amounts of money to run campaigns — women, those from small counties and minorities.  This tries to level the playing field.

Gene Barr, Vice President for Government Relations of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry agreed, explaining the Merit Selection legislation “is giving Pennsylvanians the opportunity to decide if they want to change the process” of how they select appellate judges.  On this very issue Senator White noted:

1969 [when last a referendum was held on this issue] was forty years ago.  A lot has changed in that time, the money, television ads, out of state money. . . Let’s ask the people again.  It shows a lot of confidence in the voters to ask “are you confident in voting for appellate court judges?”

We thank Senator Greenleaf and the Judiciary Committee for holding this hearing.  We hope it will be the first step in an ongoing dialogue about how we select appellate court judges — a dialogue that will culiminate with giving the people of Pennsylvania the opportunity to decide for themselves.

PMC and PMCAction are pleased to announce that the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing on Merit Selection tomorrow, Tuesday September 16 at 9:30 am.  The hearing will be held in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building, at the corner of North Street and Commonwealth Ave., in Harrisburg. For more information, click here.

We are pleased to join with many of our coalition partners in a discussion about the problems inherent in electing judges, the need for reform and the benefits of implementing a Merit Selection system for the appellate courts.  This hearing is the first step in the process of letting the people of Pennsylvania decide whether to change the way we select our appellate judges.

Check back tomorrow and Wednesday for reports about the hearing and links to testimony submitted by coalition partners.

Senator Stewart Greenleaf, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has scheduled a public hearing on Merit Selection for Tuesday September 16 at 9:30 am in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building, at the corner of North Street and Commonwealth Ave., in Harrisburg. For more information, click here.

Representatives of PMC and PMCAction and members of civic groups, business organizations, and bar associations as well as former Pennsylvania appellate court judges will be offering testimony about why they support Merit Selection for the appellate courts.  Opponents of changing the way we select appellate court judges also will have the opportunity to address the Committee.

We are grateful for this opportunity to continue the public dialogue about the problems inherent in the judicial elections, the need for reform and the benefits of Merit Selection.  We thank Senator Greenleaf and the Judiciary Committee for holding this hearing.  We hope Pennsylvanians will attend, follow media accounts of the hearing and visit our Senate Hearing Information page for more detailed information and access to some of the testimony presented.

In a press release issued today, PMC and PMCAction Executive Director Lynn Marks noted the great strides made by judicial reform advocates in Pennsylvania this year. Civic, business and legal groups, and reform-minded legislators have joined a growing coalition working to replace partisan election of Pennsylvania’s appellate judges with a Merit Selection system. Marks praises their efforts, and looks forward to more progress in the coming legislative session.