judgesonmerit.org

In the most recent Pennsylvania Senate Republican News podcast (September 19, 2008) State Senator Jane Earll voices her support for Merit Selection and explains that the September 16 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was important to “lay some groundwork so by the time that these pieces [Senate Bills 1324 and 1325] get reintroduced, people might have a better understanding  of why it is necessary to change the way that we select our appellate court judges.”

I think there is a perception that money controls the process, that ultimately our courts are not diverse because average people cannot run statewide races for the amount of money that it involves, and I think that ballot position actually goes a long way in determining who ultimately is going to sit on our courts.  And I think there’s a better way to do it.

We appreciate and thank Senator Earll for her leadership and support on this critical issue.  Download the podcast here.

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 letter to the editor published this weekend in the Philadelphia Inquirer, we call upon the legislature to consider the Merit Selection bills before the summer recess. We understand that changing the way we select appellate judges is a complex issue that needs examination and discussion. We just want the opportunity to have that discussion.

“It’s time we got the chance to show we want something different than the broken electoral system. But first, the legislature must act.” Visit this page to learn about how you can tell the legislature you want a chance to talk about Merit Selection.

A recent Philadelphia Inquirer editorial urged the state legislature to stay on track and not get diverted from pursuing important reform legislation, such as legislative redistricting. We share the Inquirer’s concern that this legislative session is winding down with precious little action on some critical issues that affect the way we run our government.

Our primary concern is Merit Selection of appellate judges. Bills to amend the constitution have been referred to the Judiciary Committees in both houses. Passage of such bills is the first step toward letting Pennsylvanians vote in a referendum on how to choose appellate judges.

But first, we need a hearing. Please tell your legislators — particularly Judiciary Committee members and committee chairs Senator Greenleaf and Representative Caltagirone — that you want a chance to vote on changing how we choose appellate judges.