Pennsylvania voters will shape the state\u2019s judiciary for years to come on Election Day as they decide on whether to retain three state Supreme Court Justices \u2013 Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht \u2013 for additional 10-year terms on the state\u2019s highest court.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other retention races for terms on the Commonwealth and Superior Courts will be taking place, as will races for various municipal offices. Below, City & State walks through what you need to know about Pennsylvania\u2019s judicial retention races.<\/p>\n
The basics<\/p>\n
In the judicial retention elections, Pennsylvania voters will have the opportunity to vote \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on whether to retain judges and justices for a new 10-year term on their respective courts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections are the most high-profile judicial contests, attracting attention from national organizations \u2013 and even President Donald Trump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht were elected as Democrats in 2015; however, retention races are nonpartisan, and no party affiliation will be listed on the ballot this year. The Pennsylvania Bar Association has recommended<\/a> each of the three justices for retention.<\/p>\n Trump and Shapiro spar over SCOPA retention races<\/p>\n Pennsylvania\u2019s judicial retention races are receiving outsized national attention this election cycle. Over the weekend, Trump offered his thoughts on the race, urging Pennsylvania voters to vote \u201cno\u201d on retaining the three Supreme Court justices.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese activist Judges unlawfully gerrymandered your Congressional maps, which led to my corrupt Impeachment(s), and locked you up during COVID by closing your small businesses, schools, and churches,\u201d Trump said Sunday in a post<\/a> on his Truth Social platform. \u201cIt is time for Justice. Vote \u201cNO, NO, NO\u201d on retention of these woke Judges.\u201d<\/p>\n