2019 Judicial Election Member Poll Results

Bar Association Judicial Poll Results Announced - PDF

May 7, 2019. 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. 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.

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 311 eligible voting members, with 151 ballots returned for 49% 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 2019 primary election are as follows:

Candidates (in alphabetical order):

Joyce A. Hatfield Wise:

Highly Recommended = 15, Recommended = 46, Not Recommended = 81, No Response = 9

Traci McDonald Kemp:

Highly Recommended = 79, Recommended = 44, Not Recommended = 26, No Response = 2

 “The Bar Association takes seriously its responsibility to play an active part in securing competent and desirable candidates to fill judicial positions,” said attorney Frank Arcuri, chair of the Bar Association’s Court Relations Committee. Other attorneys on the committee are Blane A. Black, Brett A. Clancy, Mary J. Drewitz, Joseph H. Fox, MariAnn Hathaway, Cary D. Jones, Mary Drake Korsmeyer, Jessica S. Roberts, and Harry A. Stiffler Jr.

 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.

 ####   For more information, please contact

Frank C. Roney Jr., WCBA President, 724-225-0522

Frank Arcuri Court Relations Committee Chair, 724-223-4191

Kathy Sabol, Executive Director