News

Court Eliminates Uncertainty Over Judicial Campaign Fundraising

News Article

November 08, 1998

HARRISBURG, November 9, 1998 - Chief Justice of Pennsylvania John P. Flaherty today announced that the state Supreme Court has amended two rules governing judicial conduct to clarify when judicial campaign fundraising activities must end. Separate amendments were made to the Code of Judicial Conduct [Canon 7B, (2)] - which governs Common Pleas Court judges and appellate jurists -and to the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of District Justices [Rule 15D, (4)]. Both amendments take effect immediately. Prior to these amendments, both the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of District Justices only stated the terms under which judicial candidates' campaign committees could begin to solicit funds for a judicial campaign. "The Supreme Court is always concerned that the public's trust and confidence in our judicial system can be sustained both by the actions and the public's perceptions of those sitting as jurists and those who seek judicial office," Chief Justice Flaherty said. "These amendments should help clarify uncertainty as to the rules governing judicial campaign fundraising." Campaign committees for candidates to county or statewide appellate courts are permitted to "solicit funds ... no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the first day for filing nominating petitions or the last day for filing a declaration of intention to seek re-election on a retention basis." County and appellate jurists in Pennsylvania serve 10-year terms of office, and then are subject to retention by voters. Campaign committees for district justice candidates are permitted to "solicit funds ... no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the first day for filing nominating petitions." District justices run in competitive elections for their sixyear terms of office. The amendments explicitly add that "all fundraising activities in connection with such (judicial) campaign shall terminate no later than the last calendar day of the year in which the election is held."