Breakfast Briefing: Retaining our PA Supreme Court Judges

On Monday September 29, Represent PA hosted Deborah Gross, ESQ, CEO and President of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. She reminded us that all judicial elections are important, and then went on to discuss the upcoming judicial retention election. This November, Pennsylvanians will face multiple votes and retention elections. However, the PA Supreme Court justices up for retention – all Democrats – can play a significant role in shaping our state’s future. We’re urging you to vote YES to retain Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht. Unlike a typical election, this isn’t about choosing between candidates. Retention votes are simple yes-or-no questions about whether these justices should remain on the bench for another ten years. Historically, most judges are retained without much controversy. But this year, Republicans are mounting an aggressive “vote no” campaign to create vacancies and tip the balance of power on the court. IMPORTANT: if you are voting by mail, the vote to retain the three supreme court judges appear on the back of your ballot. Please TURN IT OVER AND REMEMBER TO VOTE! Our Supreme Court has been the safeguard when Harrisburg deadlocks or when rights are under attack. This court struck down partisan gerrymandering, protected voting access in 2020, and allowed a case on fair education funding to move forward. Future rulings could determine the fate of abortion rights, voting rights, and redistricting in 2030. Represent PA does not endorse or raise funds for judicial races. But, without a fair and independent court, all of Pennsylvania becomes destabilized. Our legislature can pass bold reforms, but without a Supreme Court committed to upholding justice, those gains can vanish overnight. ACT: We need everyone to vote YES to retain the three PA Supreme Court Judges who are on the ballot this November.