Judicial Poll Results Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bar Association Judicial Poll Results Announced

May 5, 2021. Washington, PA. As a service to the voting public, the Washington County Bar Association Court Relations Committee has polled Bar Association members about the two candidates for the vacancy on the Washington County Court of Common Pleas.

Bar Association members were asked to evaluate each judicial candidate regarding trial experience, education and training, and professional knowledge and skills. In addition, personal qualities combining good character and integrity with patience, and zeal with common sense, as well as a reputation with one’s peers for diligence and timeliness.

Ballots were mailed to 293 eligible voting members, with 129 ballots returned for 44% response rate. In the ballot instructions, members were informed that the failure by a member to vote would not be considered as a vote for or against the evaluation of the candidates; therefore, blank ballots and partially blank ballots are reported as “no response.” The votes for each of the candidates for judge in the 2021 primary election are as follows:

Candidates (alpha order)

Joyce A. Hatfield Wise:  11 Highly Recommended, 31 Recommended, 54 Not Recommended, 22 Not Qualified, 11 No Response.

Jesse Pettit:  64 Highly Recommended, 34 Recommended, 11 Not Recommended, 9 Not Qualified, 11 No Response.

As an entity, the Washington County Bar Association does not recommend, support or oppose any individual candidate, and the results are not to be construed as an endorsement of or as opposition to any individual candidate.

 “The Bar’s Court Relations Committee takes seriously its responsibility to play an active part in securing competent and desirable candidates to fill judicial positions,” said attorney Damon Faldowski, chair of the Washington County Bar Association’s Court Relations Committee. Other attorneys on the committee are Frank Arcuri, Brett A. Clancy, Mary D. Drewitz, Josephine L. Johnson, Cary D. Jones, Lauren L. Mathews, Todd M. Pappasergi, Jennifer Schiavoni, and Thomas A. Steele.

As part of the committee’s process, judicial candidates, including Magisterial District Justice candidates, were asked to complete a questionnaire developed by the Bar Association’s Court Relations Committee; answers to those questionnaires are posted on the Bar Association’s website at www.washcobar.org/news.

In addition, the committee opted to interview candidates this year, and each candidate participated in a one-hour interview. After interviewing the candidates, the members of the Court Relations Committee determined that both Joyce Hatfield-Wise and Jesse Pettit are qualified for the position of judge. Based on the breadth of experience as set forth in the interviews and questionnaire responses, the committee recommends Jesse Pettit.

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