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John Mizner on how ballot decisions have become increasingly politicized.<\/p>\n
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If you\u2019ve noticed that the 2025 Pennsylvania Supreme Court judicial retention vote has taken on a highly political tone, you\u2019re not alone. Erie attorney John Mizner, a former Erie County GOP chair, has observed this shift and shared his perspective on the matter. According to Mizner, the level of political influence in these retention elections is unprecedented.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt that in 2025 in these retention elections you see more pure politics than you\u2019ve ever seen before,\u201d Mizner said.<\/p>\n
Political Messaging on Both Sides<\/p>\n
Voters across Pennsylvania have likely received numerous text messages and mailers urging them to vote along party lines. Democrats are being encouraged to vote \u201cyes\u201d to retain the three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices, while Republicans are being urged to vote \u201cno.\u201d Even Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has entered the fray with political ads that Mizner characterizes as clearly partisan in nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is our Democratic team, and they\u2019re protecting you in this branch of government,\u201d Mizner said, summarizing the governor\u2019s message. He noted that this approach marks a departure from the traditional pitch, which focused on the qualifications and performance of the judges. \u201cHeretofore, the pitch was\u2014these are good judges, they\u2019re respected, they\u2019ve done a good job\u2014that\u2019s not the pitch that the governor\u2019s making,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
A National Trend?<\/p>\n
Mizner believes this trend of politicizing judicial retention votes is not unique to Pennsylvania. He suspects that governors in other states, whether Republican or Democrat, are also injecting more political rhetoric into what is supposed to be a nonpartisan process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would suspect that a governor, whether he\u2019s Republican or Democrat, is doing the same thing in different states\u2014putting a much more political voice into a process that is supposed to be the one that is most free of politics,\u201d Mizner said.<\/p>\n
Advice for Voters: Focus on Education, Not Partisanship<\/p>\n
So, what should voters do in the face of this increasing politicization? Mizner advises against making decisions based solely on party affiliation. Instead, he urges voters to educate themselves about the candidates and the issues at stake.<\/p>\n
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\u201cEducate themselves on the candidates, on the issues so that they can make an informed decision on what\u2019s best for this Commonwealth,\u201d Mizner said. \u201cOtherwise, they\u2019re not doing their civic duty. And simply to check a box because it\u2019s Republican or Democrat is not the way these elections are intended to be, and I don\u2019t think they serve democracy if that\u2019s the way they\u2019re conducted.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Trump Effect on Judicial Elections<\/p>\n
Mizner also pointed to former President Donald Trump\u2019s handling of the courts as a contributing factor to the current situation. He noted that Trump\u2019s public criticism of judges and their decisions has been unprecedented.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrump, unlike previous presidents, has specifically called out judges, has called out decisions, has criticized judges and decisions in ways that have never been done before, and judges have responded a little bit in ways that we\u2019ve never seen before,\u201d Mizner explained. \u201cCertainly all of that is spilling over into how these retention elections are being handled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local Judges Less Affected by Politicization<\/p>\n
Despite the growing politicization of judicial retention votes at the state level, Mizner does not believe this trend will significantly impact voter decisions regarding local judges in Erie County. He attributes this to voters\u2019 familiarity with local judges, their character, and their rulings.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least they have an opportunity to get a sense of what type of judicial philosophy, what types of decisions these people make, and therefore can make a much more informed decision with respect to whether these candidates or judges should be retained,\u201d Mizner said.<\/p>\n
How to Make an Informed Decision<\/p>\n