MERCER COUNTY Bar association members rate judicial candidates

County voters will elect two common pleas judges in one election.
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Seven of the eight candidates in the Mercer County Common Pleas Court judgeship election on May 20 have been rated as either qualified or highly qualified by a majority of county bar association members who voted on them.
For the first time in county history, voters will be electing two candidates to the common pleas bench, one to replace Judge Michael J. Wherry, who is retiring, and the other to fill a fourth judgeship created by the state Legislature.
The top favorable vote-getter was James M. Goodwin. Only three voting members deemed him unqualified.
Others receiving favorable (qualified and highly qualified) votes combined for the other candidates were Christopher J. St. John, John C. Reed, Stephen J. Mirizio, Margaret Thomas Lucas, James Nevant II and William Gamble McConnell Jr.
Joann Margaret Jofery received the lowest total.
Response rate
Of 126 bar association members who were asked to evaluate the candidates on their professional competence, temperament and integrity, 95 responded. Those voting were asked to rate each candidate as highly qualified, qualified or unqualified, but some ballots omitted ratings for some candidates.
The process was conducted using state bar association guidelines, with each candidate having completed a background questionnaire and pledge to run his or her campaign under judicial standards of integrity, impartiality and independence.
Qualities assessed
When evaluating professional competence, bar members were asked to consider a candidate's intellect, judgment, legal writing and analytical ability, industry, knowledge of the law, scholarship and academic talent, professional contributions, professional experience, political activity and public service, and physical and mental health.
When evaluating temperament, the members were asked to consider a candidate's compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, sensitivity, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias and commitment to justice.