PHILADELPHIA, PA — As the November 4 general election approaches, the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention has released its official recommendations for judges seeking to retain their seats on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court.
“Our Commission members and investigative volunteers have worked for months to consider the qualifications of each retention candidate in light of their performance on the bench,” said Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari. “We encourage voters to use our ratings for both first-time and retention candidates to ensure that qualified candidates are elected in November.”
2025 Judicial Retention Ratings
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Recommended for Retention:
- Hon. Gwendolyn Bright
- Hon. Ann Butchart
- Hon. Michael Fleming
- Hon. Christopher Mallios
- Hon. Walter Olszewski
- Hon. Oriana Papademetriou
- Hon. Tracy Roman
- Hon. Stephanie Sawyer
- Hon. Susan Schulman
Not Recommended:
- Hon. Daine Grey
Not Recommended – Refused to Participate:
- Hon. Scott DiClaudio
- Hon. Frank Palumbo
- Hon. Lyris F. Younge
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Recommended for Retention:
- Hon. David Conroy
- Hon. Henry Lewandowski
- Hon. Wendy Pew
- Hon. Francis Shields
Not Recommended:
- Hon. Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde
Statewide Judicial Retention Ratings
The Association’s Campaign for Qualified Judges is also promoting ratings from the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Commission (JEC) for appellate court judges. All five statewide candidates have been Recommended for Retention:
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Hon. Christine Donohue, Hon. Kevin Dougherty, Hon. David Wecht
- Superior Court: Hon. Alice Beck Dubow
- Commonwealth Court: Hon. Michael Wojcik
“Every election matters, and our Commission’s ratings are often one of the only nonpartisan sources of information about candidates running for judge at the local level,” said Matt Olesh, chair of the Campaign for Qualified Judges. “Voters deserve information sources that look beyond politics and at the objective qualifications that these judges bring to their work.”
A Rigorous Evaluation Process
The Judicial Commission, which has issued ratings for over 40 years, comprises 36 members from diverse legal, governmental, and community backgrounds. In 2025, more than 100 volunteers supported the Commission’s work, conducting interviews and reviewing candidate materials.
Candidates undergo a thorough vetting process, including:
- Submission of questionnaires and writing samples
- Interviews with colleagues, adversaries, and judges
- A polling of the legal community
- Direct interviews with the Commission
Retention candidates are rated either “Recommended” or “Not Recommended.” Those who refuse to participate in the process are automatically listed as “Not Recommended.”
Judicial Commission Chair Marc J. Zucker emphasized the importance of transparency and community involvement: “We commend all of the judicial candidates and judges seeking retention who took the time to submit their materials, appear before the Commission, and cooperate with our investigative teams. These efforts show the deep commitment of our entire community to educate the public about the judiciary and those who seek to hold positions of such tremendous power.”
As the election nears, the Philadelphia Bar Association urges voters to consult these ratings to make informed decisions that prioritize judicial merit over politics.
