Monday, October 27, 2003
This is only the second time in the county's history that two judicial seats are open.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County voters might have anticipated having four names to choose from when they select two new common pleas judges Nov. 4, but they'll have only three.
Judicial candidates are allowed to cross-file on the election ballot as both Republicans and Democrats, and Atty. Christopher St. John proved to be so popular in the May primary that he won a nomination in each party.
Because Mercer County voters cast their ballots on electronic voting machines, St. John's name will appear only once but with both a Democratic and Republican designation.
He faces Atty. John Reed on the Republican ticket and Atty. Steve Mirizio on the Democrat side.
The trio defeated five other candidates vying for nominations in May.
This will be only the second time in Mercer County's 200-year history that voters will have the chance to pick two judges in one year.
Judge Michael Wherry's decision not to seek retention this year opened up one seat, and the Pennsylvania legislature created a fourth judicial seat in Mercer County this year, creating the second vacancy.
The only other time two judicial seats opened at the same time was in 1953 with the death of Judge George Rowley.
The state had created a second judicial seat for the county that year, and Attys. Herman Rodgers and Leo McKay were appointed in 1954 to fill the two spots.
Both ran successfully for election to their own 10-year terms in 1955.
Retirement age
The job now pays $121,225 a year and only one candidate, Reed, is at the age where he wouldn't be able to complete his entire term.
He said judges in Pennsylvania must retire at the end of the year in which they reach age 70, and he turned 61 on April 4. He wouldn't be seated until January 2004 if he wins the election.
His term would end Dec. 31, 2013, but he would be forced to step down as of Dec. 31, 2012.
That would mean the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would likely assign a senior judge to cover the remaining year of his term, and he could be that senior judge.
The high court picks its senior judges from common pleas court retirees. Senior judges can be assigned to cases anywhere in the state.
Judicial candidates, by state ethics rules, aren't allowed to discuss issues that they might be required to rule on later as a judge, leaving them with only their experience and record to tout.
The Mercer County Bar Association ranked all eight candidates before the primary, and Mirizio, St. John and Reed were all ranked as qualified to fill the post.