All candidates running for judge in Montgomery County have the opportunity to be rated by their peers at the Montgomery County Bar Association. Those who chose to seek recommendation were assessed and the final results were posted on the Montgomery Bar Association website last week. The judging criteria is as follows:
The Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association is charged with interviewing and rating candidates for the position of judge in the Court of Common Pleas. The Judiciary Committee is composed of 34 lawyers of diverse backgrounds, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County with a combined legal practice exceeding 1000 years.
Each candidate is evaluated individually and not as compared to other candidates. The purpose of the ratings is to educate the public as to how each candidate’s peers view them as possibly becoming judges, and to assist the electorate in their evaluation of judicial candidates on election day.
The Committee is charged to rate a candidate recommended, highly recommended or not recommended.
The recommendation awarded to the candidate does not speak to the candidate’s ability as a practicing attorney at law.
The rating criteria which are considered are the candidate’s:
- Integrity
- Good moral character
- Industry
- Good health
- Legal ability
- Bench trial, jury trial or evidentiary hearing experience
- Judicial temperament (patience, courtesy, compassion, impartiality, humility, even temper, sense of fairness)
Each candidate submits to the Committee a biographical summary of their legal experience and background. These submissions are carefully reviewed and considered. The Committee also conducts reviews and discussions with persons each candidate advises are familiar with their qualifications.
The Bar considers this procedure a public service.
Below, I have listed those Republican judicial candidates "highly recommended" and "recommended" by the Bar:
Highly Recommended
Gary Steven Silow
Daniel J. Clifford
Carolyn Tornetta Carluccio
Garrett David Page
Jeffrey McDonnell
Kelly C. Wall
Maureen Claire Coggins
John C. Armstrong
Patricia E. Coonahan
Wendy Demchick-Alloy
David A. Keightly
Joanna M. Cruz
Brian D. Rosenthal
Harvey Friedland
The Bar Association allows attorneys vying for judicial recommendations to withdraw of the running rather than receive a "not recommended" status. The Republican candidates who withdrew are:
Bill Bryers
Moon Ahn
Barbara May
I have listed each candidate in the order they were presented on the Bar Association's website. I am looking into whether or not they were placed there by ranking, or if it is just a random placement.
As soon as I know, I will update this post accordingly.
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