Speakers and advocates gathered outside Black & Brass Coffee Saturday for a “Speak Out” event, urging voters to retain Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty.
The three justices — part of a 5-2 Democratic majority in the Supreme Court — were elected in 2015 and assumed office the following year. Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices serve 10-year terms.
While retention elections are normally routine, non-partisan matters and are basically foregone conclusions, Republicans are working to vacate the three justices from their seat.
State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., urged voters to remember how important the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is, as the first line of protection for citizens of the state.
Kosierowski, who spent more than 25 years as a registered nurse, said the retention vote would have an impact on health care issues.
She described the justices up for retention with three words: “protection, independence and experience.”
Representative Kyle Donahue speaks at a “Speakout” rally on Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote “yes” to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Jennifer Graham Partyka, RN, speaks at a “Speakout” rally on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote “yes” to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
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Representative Kyle Donahue speaks at a “Speakout” rally on Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote “yes” to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
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Vote ‘yes’, not ‘Yaas’
The three justices are running for another term, but appear on the ballot simply as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote, in answer to the question, “Should this judge be retained?”
One of the themes of the Speak Out rally was, “Vote ‘Yes,’ not Yass,’” referencing billionaire Jeffrey Yass’ efforts to finance the Republicans’ campaign against retention.
Alicia Duque, a member of Action Together NEPA and a mother of three boys with special needs, feels like the system is rigged against hardworking families.
“We work harder than ever to make ends meet, yet billionaires like Jeff Yass continue to hoard their wealth without paying their share,” she said in a statement read at the rally. “Now, Jeff Yass wants to rig our Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve his own political agenda. But, we won’t let him.”
State Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-113, Scranton, emphasized the importance of the state’s Supreme Court.
“Courts aren’t political arenas,” he said. “Justice is not for sale and not swayed by politics.”
Instead, courts are to base their decisions on principles and precedent, he said.
Justices Wecht, Donohue and Dougherty are guided by experience, integrity and commitment to justice, Donahue said.
Jessica Brittain, Action Together NEPA, emphasized the state’s Supreme Court impacts issues such as women’s rights, public school funding, Medicare and healthcare.
She pointed out that the current U.S. Supreme Court is composed of nine justices, six of whom were appointed by Republican presidents and three by Democratic presidents.
It’s important, she said, for the state to retain its current balance.
The state’s Supreme Court has a 5-2 Democratic majority, so an across-the-board loss for Democrats on Nov. 4 could leave the court in a partisan 2-2 stalemate for two years, including through next year’s midterm elections.
Action Together NEPA Executive Director Alisha Hoffman-Mirilovich urged voters not only to educate themselves on the issue, but share information on the retention vote with others by word-of-mouth and social media.
Following the event, many of the speakers headed out to canvass local neighborhoods.