Republican candidates Anthony Scanlon, Margaret Amoroso, and Dominic Pileggi have received the non-partisan Delaware County Bar Association’s highest rating of “Well Qualified” to serve as Judges of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, reports Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party. 
“Scanlon, Amoroso, and Pileggi collectively have more than 90 years combined legal experience, making them eminently qualified to serve as members of our county judiciary,” said Reilly. “We are pleased that the members of Delaware County Bar Association recognized their extensive legal background and experience and gave them the highest rating of ‘Well Qualified’.”
The ratings were released today by the Delaware County Bar Association’s Judicial Selection / Retention Committee, which asked its bipartisan association members to rate the qualifications of the candidates for the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. Scanlon, Amoroso, and Pileggi will be on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots in the May 19 Primary Election.
The vast majority of respondents found all three candidates to be ‘well qualified’ or ‘qualified’ with Margaret Amoroso receiving 79 percent, Dominic Pileggi receiving 82 percent, and Anthony Scanlon receiving 85 percent well qualified or qualified votes.
While the Democratic candidates for judge refused to submit their qualifications for evaluation by the membership of the Bar Association, Democrat Lawrence DeMarco did participate in the process in 2011. Only 5 percent selected him as “well qualified” and just 19 percent found him “qualified” for a combined total of just 24 percent. His running mate this year, Lawrence Abel, just applied to become a member of the Delaware County Bar Association this month, which would have made him largely unknown by the Bar Association had he taken part in the process.
“It is insulting and hypocritical that DeMarco and Abel refused to have their qualifications judged by their peers but they want to sit in judgment of others on the bench,” said Reilly. “But considering that DeMarco’s previous rating was so poor and that Abel just applied to the Bar Association for membership, it’s no wonder they didn’t want their qualifications evaluated.”
While the Democrats’ refusal to take part in the process was disappointing, the Republican candidates were still pleased with their individual evaluations and ratings.
“I am honored to receive the highest rating of ‘well qualified’ from the membership of the Delaware County Bar Association,” said Scanlon, a former District Justice who was appointed to complete an unexpired term on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas last year.
“It is always encouraging when your fellow attorneys recognize that you have the experience and qualifications to serve as a member of the judiciary,” said Pileggi. “It’s a great honor.”
“I appreciate the support and confidence of the members of the bar association,” said Ms. Amoroso. “I think these ratings serve as a guide for voters when evaluating who is best qualified to serve as a judge.”
