Search
Close this search box.

Pa. Bar OKs All 3 Superior Court Candidates

gavelVoters can’t go wrong in the primary or general election for Superior Court, the Pa. Bar Association says. All three contenders received a rating of “recommended.”

On May 21 Democratic primary voters will choose between Jack McVay, who has sat the bench at the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas since 2007, and Joe Waters, who has served as a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge since 2009.

Only one candidate will appear on the Republican ballot: Vic Stabile, the managing partner of the Dilworth Paxson Harrisburg office.

“The information issued by the PBA JEC helps voters select candidates best suited to serve as fair, impartial and knowledgeable appellate court judges,” said Erie County lawyer Tim Riley Jr., chair of the PBA JEC. “By its own definitions, the PBA JEC only recommends potential candidates with the legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament to provide satisfactory or outstanding performance as judges on the benches of our appellate courts.”

According to the Pa. Bar’s Judicial Evaluation Commission, a rating of recommended means: “Based on legal ability, experience, integrity and temperament, the candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge or justice of the court for which he/she is a candidate.”

The best rating possible is “highly recommended”, the lowest is “not recommended”.

Generally speaking sitting judges have the inside track with bar association ratings, whereas even distinguished attorneys rarely get above “recommended.”

While the Stabile’s and Waters’ home bar associations don’t appear to have issued their own ratings at this point, the Allegheny County Bar gave hometown candidate McVay a “highly recommended” rating.

Here are the paragraph bios of all three candidates from the Pa. Bar:

Jack McVay
Jack McVay

Judge John T. McVay Jr.
Rating: Recommended

The Candidate has served as a judge on the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas since 2007, where he has been assigned to the Family Division. His caseload consists of juvenile dependency, delinquency and adult cases. The Candidate previously served in Allegheny County as assistant county solicitor, counsel for the Housing Authority and assistant Pittsburgh city solicitor, while maintaining a part-time law practice. He is regarded as having outstanding legal ability in his current position. He is recognized for his diligence, excellent temperament and willingness to employ unique solutions in matters that come before him. While the Candidate has limited experience before the appellate courts, the Commission found that he has the legal ability, experience, integrity and judicial temperament to perform satisfactorily on the Superior Court and recommends his candidacy.

Read the Candidate’s questionnaire.

VicStabile
Vic Stabile

Victor P. Stabile
Rating: Recommended

The Candidate has excelled in his career as a civil litigator. He is the managing partner of his law firm’s Harrisburg office. He previously served as a clerk for a Commonwealth Court judge and worked as a litigator in the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The Candidate has strong writing skills, administrative ability and experience in handling cases in the appellate courts. He is held in high regard by his peers, who have noted his intellect, strong work ethic and integrity. He also serves as a township supervisor and has an exemplary record of pro bono and community service. Based on his experience and his intellect, as well as his passion for the law and public service, the commission recommends the Candidate for a position on the Superior Court.

Read the Candidate’s questionnaire.

Judge Joe Waters
Joe Waters

Joseph C. Waters Jr.
Rating: Recommended

The Candidate has served as a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge since 2009. He previously worked for the Philadelphia Police Department for 21 years and as a lawyer in private practice representing clients primarily in bankruptcy, family law and criminal defense matters. His law enforcement background has served him well as a municipal court judge, however, his experience before the Superior Court is limited. The commission found the Candidate has adequate writing and analytical skills and believes the Candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge on the Superior Court.

Read the Candidate’s questionnaire.

One Response

  1. I found your description of each Candidate helpful in making my decision on whom to vote.

Email:
  • Do you agree that ByteDance should be forced to divest TikTok?


    • Yes. It's a national security risk. (60%)
    • No. It's an app used by millions and poses no threat. (40%)
    • What's ByteDance? (0%)

    Total Voters: 30

    Loading ... Loading ...
Continue to Browser

PoliticsPA

To install tap and choose
Add to Home Screen