GOP-backed Pa. high court hopeful blasts evaluation panel

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican Party’s endorsed candidate for one of three open seats on Pennsylvania’s high court is blasting a state bar association panel for what she says is an unfair and unethical attempt to drive her out of the race.

Commonwealth Court Judge Anne Covey released a letter today criticizing the Judicial Evaluation Commission, which rates statewide judicial candidates.

Judge Covey, best known as the judge in a court case involving NCAA sanctions against Penn State, had not yet been rated when the GOP endorsed her.

Judge Covey says the panel told her to drop out or face a negative rating because of a TV ad she aired in her 2011 Commonwealth Court campaign. She also says an unnamed Penn State trustee on the commission has a conflict because he didn’t recuse himself.