Candidate Stabile signed pledge to 'refrain from making statements that might be subject to misinterpretation or distortion'

HARRISBURG (Nov. 1, 2013) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Campaign Advertising Committee (PBA JCAC) today announced its decision that a portion of Superior Court candidate Victor P. Stabile's television advertisement violates the PBA Judicial Candidate's Pledge that candidate Stabile signed last December.

The PBA JCAC asked candidate Stabile to take steps to immediately discontinue the ad and to furnish proof of compliance by a specific deadline. Although acknowledging receipt of these requests, candidate Stabile failed to provide proof of compliance by that deadline, and the ad continues to run.

Under the PBA JCAC Judicial Campaign Advertising Guidelines, judicial candidates for the appellate courts agree to a number of standards, including the following:

"Every effort should be made to refrain from making statements that might be subject to misinterpretation or distortion."

The guidelines also emphasize that if a violation occurs, the candidate may be requested to withdraw or amend the problematic or offensive advertisement.

"Judicial campaigns are different from other political campaigns,"said Richard M. Goldberg, chair of the PBA JCAC. "Candidates running for judgeships must abide by the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits candidates from making false or misleading statements about themselves or their opponents."

"Under the PBA JCAC guidelines, if corrective action is not taken by the violating candidate in accordance with the timeframe set by the PBA JCAC, a public announcement concerning the noncompliance can be made."

The PBA JCAC urges candidates to abide by the pledge that they have signed.

A copy of the PBA Judicial Campaign Advertising Guidelines and Judicial Candidate's Pledge can be found at the web address: http://www.pabar.org/public/committees/JUD02/adguidecanpledge.asp