PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Bar Association has recommended that voters say “yes” to all five statewide judges seeking retention in the Nov. 4 election, but it does not recommend retaining five of the 18 city judges up for retention.
Though this is considered an “off-year election,” Pennsylvania voters face a daunting ballot — not only races for vacant judicial seats, but also retention elections for sitting judges.
The Bar Association has recommended retention for all of the statewide judges on the ballot — Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts — but it is mixed when it comes to the city bench.
It recommended retaining nine Common Pleas judges but singled out four as not recommended. Campaign for Qualified Judges chair Matt Olesh said three of them — Scott DiClaudio, Frank Palumbo and Lyris Younge — weren’t recommended because they did not participate in the bar process.
“I think it begs the question of why someone isn’t submitting to the process,” said Olesh. “If someone doesn’t submit to our process that’s what our procedures call for.”
According to Olesh, the Bar Association has a thorough process for vetting candidates for retention. “It involves evaluating materials that are submitted by candidates for retention. There’s also a poll of the legal community regarding the work of each retention candidate,” he said.
Olesh said the bar doesn’t otherwise comment on why judges are not recommended. That includes Family Court Judge Daine Grey, who participated but was not recommended. Stefanie Arbutina of Children First said the families she works with offered some context.
“We’ve heard that he’s shouted at folks in the courtroom, that it’s just an unpredictable, challenging environment,” Arbutina said.
Grey did not respond to a request for comment.
In Municipal Court, Judge Jacqueline Frazier-Lyde was stunned not to be recommended and pushed back. She said in 17 years on the bench, she had rarely been reversed, has been active in outreach and education about the courts, and has gotten daily feedback that she has a good reputation. She said she stands on her record.