Wolford Vs Prince In Commonwealth Court Fight
By Bob Small
Two Republicans are seeking the slot for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge in the May 20 primary.
If you’re ever on a quiz show there are only four commonwealth states. with the others being Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
Pennsylvania, however, is the only commonwealth with a Commonwealth Court. It was created in 1968.
Commonwealth Court deals primarily with cases brought both by and against the State Government. It is also is involved with cases involved with state departments and local governments.
This year’s open seat is to replace Democrat Eileen Ceisler, who retired in January.
Currently, there are five GOP Judges and three Democrats of the nine required judges. Judges have a 10-year term, and then a retention vote. Refreshingly the mandatory retirement age for Pennsylvania judges is 75.
Seeking the Republican nomination for the seat are Matthew Wolford and Josh Prince.
Wolford is a sole practitioner who specializes in environmental law. His resume includes working as assistant counsel and rgional counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and as a prosecutor with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG) He also served as a special Prosecutor for Environmental Crimea for the OAG and the US Attorney for Western Pennsylvania, among other jobs in his career.
He wrote a chapter on oil and gas development in public lands for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s The Law of Oil and Gas in Pennsylvania.
Wolford received his Bachelor’s degree from Penn State and has a Temple Law Degree. He is married to Marian and they have four children.
He says his practice partially focuses on (on “defending clients against government enforcement actions and helping clients work through complex regulatory challenges “ and“fighting for private property rights.”
See also Matt Wolford for Judge: Home.
Joshua Prince is the fourth generation of Princes practicing law.
He has a double major from McGill University in political science and world religions. He has his Law Degree from Widener. His Law firm has a primary focus on firearms law issues.
Wolford is the GOP endorsed candidate. Joshua is a prince of a fellow, especially on Gun rights issues.
