If you want a glimpse at why this year’s primary election matters, just consider: America’s judicial system, judges, district attorneys and all, may be the last stronghold of our democracy.
In the past two months alone, federally appointed judges have pushed back against the onslaught of orders from President Trump, with many more cases in the pipeline. Locally, while our judges are not being asked to weigh in on presidential orders, their role as stewards of law and justice in Philadelphia and the state is no less important. Judges determine whether a case proceeds to trial, whether defendants are released on bail, how much time they’ll serve, whether and how they will be released.
This affects all of us. Pennsylvanians this year will elect several judges up and down the state and city judicial system. In Philadelphia, we also face a competitive District Attorney’s race between two-term incumbent Larry Krasner and former Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan that could shape criminal justice policy in our city over the next several years.
In-person citywide primary voting takes place May 20, 2025, with polls open from 7am to 8pm. Deadline to register to vote in the primary election is May 5. Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is May 13. The City Commissioners’ Office typically sends mail-in ballots to voters who’ve applied for them about one month before the election, so mid-April.
As a reminder: In Pennsylvania primary elections, you can vote only for members of your own party. Our fair Commonwealth does not, in other words, employ what most people believe to be the fairest form of primary elections: open primaries.
- JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
- JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT
- JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
- JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT
- DISTRICT ATTORNEY
- CITY CONTROLLER
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
The Pennsylvania Superior Court plays a crucial role in the judicial system, serving as an intermediate appellate court that handles criminal and civil appeals in County Courts of Common Pleas. It’s the pivotal juncture in the legal journey before a case can move on to the PA Supreme Court. The Superior Court holds significant sway in the state’s legal landscape due to the constraints on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s capacity to hear all cases.
Panels of three judges typically review cases, and these judges often travel to various locations to hear cases, ensuring accessibility and thorough consideration of legal matters.
There is one open seat for a judge of the Superior Court in PA.