The Pennsylvania Bar Association has released its biannual ratings for statewide judicial candidates for 2017.  

In races that often fly below the radar, the rating can make or break a candidate’s effort to earn a state party endorsement or win a primary.

There is one vacancy on the Pa. Supreme Court, 4 on the Pa. Superior Court, and 2 on the Commonwealth Court.

The nonpartisan rating system is based on an application submitted by each candidate. Here’s how the PA Bar defines its ratings, which it emphasizes are not intended to construe an official  endorsement (or unendorsement):

Highly Recommended: The candidate possesses the highest combination of legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament and would be capable of outstanding performance as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.

Recommended: Based on legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament, the candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.

Not Recommended:  Based on legal ability, experience, integrity or temperament, or any combination thereof, at the present time, the candidate is inadequate to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.

Candidates are presented in alphabetical order.

PA Supreme Court (One Vacancy)
Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, Tioga County (R) – Highly Recommended
Judge Judith F. Olson (R)* – Highly Recommended
Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff, Allegheny County (D) – Recommended

PA Superior Court (Four Vacancies)
William F. Caye II, Allegheny County (D) – Not Recommended
Albert J. Flora Jr., Luzerne County (D)* – Recommended
Judge Emil A. Giordano (R) – Highly Recommended
Judge Wade A. Kagarise, Blair County (R) – Recommended
Judge Deborah A. Kunselman, Beaver County (D) – Highly Recommended
Judge Maria C. McLaughlin, Philadelphia County (D) – Recommended
Judge H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr., Montgomery County (D) – Highly Recommended
Judge Carolyn H. Nichols, Philadelphia County (D) – Recommended
Judge Paula A. Patrick, Philadelphia County (R) – Highly Recommended
Judge Lillian Harris Ransom, Philadelphia County (D)* – Highly Recommended
Judge Carl A. Solano, Philadelphia County (R)* – Highly Recommended
Craig W. Stedman, Lancaster County (R) – Highly Recommended

PA Commonwealth Court (Two Vacancies)
Rep. Bryan E. Barbin, Cambria County (D) – Recommended
Timothy Barry, Allegheny County (D) – Recommended
Judge Ellen H. Ceisler, Philadelphia County (D) – Recommended
Judge Joseph M. Cosgrove, Luzerne County (D) – Highly Recommended
James C. Crumlish III, Montgomery County (D)* – Highly Recommended
Todd Eagen, Lackawanna County (D) – Recommended
Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon, Delaware County (R) – Highly Recommended
Judge Paul N. Lalley (R) – Recommended
Irene McLaughlin Clark, Allegheny County (D) – Not Recommended
Kenneth J. Suter, Dauphin County (R)* – Recommended
Matthew L. Wolford, Erie County (R)* – Highly Recommended

*Indicates candidate has dropped out

The article has been edited to correct the Party affiliation of Judge Carl A. Solano.