Pa. Judicial Elections Are Important to PICPA Members

Despite the distinction of the 2008 presidential campaign, which is still a year away, PICPA members and voters would be wise to focus their attention on next month’s elections. There are two vacancies on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – the Commonwealth’s highest appellate court – and one justice, Thomas Saylor, seeks retention for another term.

CPA-PAC, the political arm of PICPA, has taken an active role in judicial elections since the mid-1990s, when it contributed to the election of now Justice Saylor. CPA-PAC also played a role in the election of Mike Eakin to the Court, and later supported Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin, who is now up for retention.

Do not ignore this election: the people who are elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court serve an important role within the checks and balances of state government.

Supreme Court justices can strike down or uphold laws, and can order government officials to take certain actions. These justices have a tremendous influence on how government operates and how it affects your life. Much of what the CPA profession is and does—including licensing, CPE, and detailing the services you can and cannot provide—is influenced by government action, including the judicial branch.

As Pennsylvania’s court of last resort, the state Supreme Court is known for its final rulings on everything from public school funding, to workers’ compensation, to tax issues, to product liability, and everything in between. This is why the Supreme Court is so important to each PICPA member. The issues being decided at the Supreme Court can have a lasting effect.

Justice Saylor, a member of the Supreme Court since 1997, is up for retention this year. Retention elections are a simple “yes” or “no” vote on whether a judge should stay on the court for another 10-year term. Members of the CPA-PAC Board met with Justice Saylor in May and, impressed by the candidate, will be supporting his retention.

This year’s candidates for the open seats include three Pennsylvania Superior Court judges, Maureen Lally-Green, Debra Todd, and Seamus McCaffrey. The fourth candidate is Judge Michael Krancer. Lally-Green and Krancer are the Republican candidates, while Todd and McCaffery are their Democratic counterparts.

Judge Lally-Green has served on the Superior Court since 1998. The judge is familiar with the CPA profession, as her two brothers, John and Robert Lally, are CPAs with their own firm, Lally, Lally & Co. LLC in Pittsburgh. Learn more about Judge Lally-Green.

Michael Krancer was chief judge and past chairman of the state’s Environmental Hearing Board. Learn more about Judge Krancer.

Judge Todd served on the Superior Court since 1999. Previously, she worked in private practice and for U.S. Steel. Learn more about Judge Todd.

Judge McCaffrey served on the Superior Court since 2003, and began his career as a Philadelphia police officer. Learn more about Judge McCaffrey.

The CPA-PAC Board has also met with Judge Lally-Green and Michael Krancer and hope to hear from Judges Todd and McCaffery in the near future.

Remember to go to your polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to cast your vote in this important election.