PENNSYLVANIA BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL EVALUATION COMMISSION 2011 SUPERIOR COURT CANDIDATE RATINGS
RATINGS OF CANDIDATES FOR ONE VACANCY
Judge Paula A. Patrick
Rating: Recommended
The Candidate was a solo practitioner for almost 10 years prior to her election as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in November 2003. Her judicial duties have been primarily in Juvenile Court handling delinquency and dependency cases. For the past year, she served as Philadelphia's Gun Court judge. Her high volume courtroom is well served by her high energy personality. She is a hard worker, well organized and efficient in managing her caseload. Her judicial peers and lawyers who appear before her agree that the Candidate adapted quickly to being a judge. She is viewed as being knowledgeable about the law, fair to all parties and committed to assuring equal justice to all. She is active in her community. The commission recommends the Candidate to serve as a judge of the Superior Court.
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Victor P. Stabile
Rating: Recommended
Throughout his career as a civil litigator, the Candidate has been held in high regard by his peers, who commend his integrity, strong work ethic and civility. He served as a clerk for a Commonwealth Court judge before working as a litigator in the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. More recently, he has distinguished himself as the managing partner of his firm's Harrisburg office, where he handles complex civil litigation matters. His writing skills are strong and his experience handling cases before the appellate courts is solid. He has an exemplary record of pro bono service, and he has also served his community as a member of his township's Board of Supervisors. Based on his strong intellect, passion for the law and even temperament, the commission recommends him for a position on the Superior Court.
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Judge David N. Wecht
Rating: Highly Recommended
The Candidate has served with distinction over the past eight years as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. He recently served as the administrative judge of the Family Division, where he implemented innovative programs, including "One Family, One Judge" to provide consistency in the adjudication of legal issues that are addressed by that division. As a Family Court judge, the Candidate had experience in both the domestic relations and juvenile justice functions. While in the Family Division, he served on a regular basis in the Civil Division of the court, where he is now sits. His opinions evidence thoughtful scholarly research and demonstrate his keen intellect. He is respectful of litigants in his court, and his opinions demonstrate his understanding of both sides of the matters before him. His love of the law is apparent not only by his service on the bench but also by his teaching at the law school and college levels and by the publication of many articles. The Candidate has the breadth of experience and knowledge required to serve with distinction on the Superior Court and is highly recommended.
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