To The Legal:

Respectfully, Terry Madonna's quote that it is important to political parties to "hold on" to Superior Court seats incorrectly leaves the impression the Superior Court judges make decisions based on their political party registration.

The process of people choosing their judges by election, just as they choose their leaders in the executive and legislative branches of government, requires involvement in political parties during the campaign year. Such involvement ends upon their election.

Superior Court judges' decisions are based on the law, regardless of political party affiliation.

While some decry the need for judicial candidates to raise money, the public is provided information, such as in The Legal Intelligencer article, as to the sources of donations, and the political party affiliation of the candidates. In an appointment process it would be impossible to determine which donations were made to the appointing authority to influence the selection of judges, and the political parties might indeed want to "hold on" to judicial seats.

Pennsylvanians can be proud of their elected nonpartisan, dedicated and thoughtful approach to the law, without regard to political party affiliation, by their Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts judges.

Correale Stevens

President Judge Emeritus

Superior Court of Pennsylvania