Ousting a sitting judge is rare. Delaware County Democrats want voters to do so this November

[FakeNoose]

Philly Inquirer link: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/delaware-county-election-judges-democrats-republicans-20231010.html

Local judicial races rarely attract attention, but partisan politics are playing a role in a Delaware County race this fall. In a move insiders say represents a bold shift in local politics, Delaware County Democrats are recommending that voters remove three Republican judges from the county Court of Common Pleas in November.

It’s rare for local party officials to get involved in judicial retention elections — in which voters decide every 10 years whether a sitting judge should remain on the bench. The Delaware County Democratic Committee is bucking a long-standing norm.

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A rare recommendation

Passed by a narrow 18-17 majority last Wednesday, the county Democrats’ decision not to support retention of three GOP judges from the Delaware County Court means the party will share that recommendation with voters ahead of the Nov. 7 general election.

Guiney said the party’s decision is not to criticize any individual decisions made by the judges. Those judges, Richard M. Cappelli, Barry C. Dozor, and William Chip Mackrides, have either run as or been endorsed by Republicans.

- more at link -

It's a fact that the judicial seats in Pennsylvania are overwhelmingly won by Republican candidates. And those terms are for up to 10 years before a retention vote. Once a judge gets elected, there are few opportunities to replace him or her, regardless of party.

The GOP likes to say that "judicial elections aren't political," but they say that because they're sitting in the catbird seat.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. You're about as likely to remove a judge

as to defrock a doctor, shrink, police, or lawyer. Rare earth event.

Judicial control is almost permanent in PA. It goes on for generations. Sometimes the same families that were lawyers in 1920 are still in business. Nothing ever changes. Look at state stores. Estate tax reform. School funding. Lots of noise in the legislature which is usually controlled by the GOP too, but nothing much happens other than tinkering around the edges with popular measures to lessen the pain such as real estate rebates from casino profits. Accept gambling, get change.