Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story indicated that Republican candidates had won all available races, but after a recount was triggered, Democratic candidate Judge Lori Dumas won a spot on the Commonwealth Court. The story has been updated to reflect those developments. 

When asked about whether the Pennsylvania courts have a partisan perception problem, several candidates seeking spots on the state's appellate benches said they did, with one candidate citing a lack of faith in the judiciary and the appearance of partisanship among judges as one of the greatest threats the profession faces.