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To Judge or not to Judge? These are the questions for Republicans and Independents in the Philly 2025 DA Primary.

By Joe Mirarchi

Well Philly’s DA Election is less than a month away. But is it the only election race that counts in Philly this year? And if not, should it be? There are also races for one judicial seat on the Commonwealth Court (“CC”) and another for the Superior Court (“SC”). Both political parties have candidates running for each judicial seat. There is no doubt that all these elections play a vital role in applying, enforcing, and shaping state and city law. The Primary Election is on May 20. The deadline to register to vote or to change your Party is before that on May 5 Register to vote or switch parties here, in seconds, for free: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx.

Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that still elects its judges in partisan political elections. This process often frustrates voters because they are not advised on the open positions and the candidates running for them. This should be an essential responsibility of political party leaders (i.e., Chairpersons, Electors, State Committee Persons, Ward Leaders, Committee Persons, etc.); Election Officials; and even attorneys. However, in Philly voters are often misguided into believing these elections are more about supporting President Trump while silently trying to undermine his direction. Such misguidance is wrong, possibly even treasonous. This coming Primary Election is about the safety, health, and welfare of all residents, guests, and businesses within the city. It is Philly First when it comes to the people, law, order and safety, and that is America First.

Since Soros-backed incumbent DA, Larry Krasner, took office on New Years Day, 2018, homicides are up 50% . Gun shooting assaults also increased by 54%. This means that over the past 7½ years, Mr. Krasner’s Office has been successful in failing to prosecute these and other felonies, e.g., robberies, thefts, drug sales, etc. These numbers do not even factor his 2020 failures to prosecute the vandals who torched, destroyed, and looted Philly during the George Floyd riots. In reports of the New York Times, Mr. Krasner’s office dismissed or dropped charges in approximately 98% of the 558 criminal cases related to them. This involved about 544 individuals and 99% of the charges where three-fourths of these cases were related to commercial burglary or trespassing. On behalf of the city, in conjunction with former Mayor Jim Kenney, Mr. Krasner also dropped up to 2,000 summonses. Clearly, during his tenure Mr. Krasner established that he is derelict in his duty to promote public safety. As the city’s Prosecutor and enforcer of the state’s and city’s criminal laws, promoting safety is his job. See PROSECUTORS LIKE KRASNER GO SOFT-ON-CRIME AND IT HAS CONSEQUENCES FOR CITIES

Philly needs to elect a new DA. So who are its registered Republican and Independent Voters going to vote for? Especially since the state and local Republican Party (“GOP”) failed to produce a Trump supporting candidate. Many people are asking. The only person to step up for this challenge is Honorable President Judge Patrick Dugan (retired; Democrat) who sat in Philly’s Municipal Court (“MC”) since five years before Mr. Krasner became DA—you know, before all the above increases. Judge Dugan may not be Pro-Trump, but one thing is for sure, he is not Pro-Soros. And he is Pro-Law & Order—just like President Trump.

So which, if any, of the coming elections are most important to Philly? Are not all PA elections and courts the same? Why would a guy who was a Judge want to be DA? And why is Mayor Cherelle Parker, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, and all of City Council, remaining silent on these elections? Their silence and the answers to these questions reveal why everyone in Philly needs to stop voting straight-lever party lines.

As to all these levels, the CCP serves as the primary trial courts. In Felony Criminal, Family, and Civil matters in excess of $50,000, cases are heard by the judge on bench or by a jury overseen by the bench. It also hears de novo appeals in cases arising from the minor courts. To distinguish, the CC and the SC, as third tier statewide courts, are appellate courts. The CC is unique. PA is the only state in America to have one. Although it is third tier, it handles original civil action claims brought by state and those cases filed against it. The CC also hears appeals raised from final orders of certain state agencies. See PA Statute, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 761-764. The SC handles appeals of Civil, Family, and Criminal cases arising from the CCP.

These elected positions affect and effect our daily lives. Everyone understands the DA’s job is to protect the public from criminals. But many people have no idea what judges do throughout the different courts to do the same. By understanding their function, it becomes clear that Philly now has a rare opportunity to use Judge Dugan’s experiences and abilities as a MC Judge in the DA’s Office. For these reasons, everyone in Philly should make the DA’s Primary Race their first priority on May 20.

In PA, there are four judicial levels. They make up the Commonwealth’s Unified Judicial System. First, the Minor Courts, being the County Magisterial Courts (Civil & Criminal) and Municipal Courts (Civil, Criminal, and Special, Treatment). Second, the County Courts of Common Pleas (“CCP”) (being Civil, Family, and Criminal). Third, the statewide intermediate appellate courts, being the CC and the SC. Fourth, the State Supreme Court which is the ultimate state authority overseeing all of them. See Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, Pennsylvania Court Structure @ https://www.pmconline.org/resources/pennsylvania-court-structure
(c. 2024) (retrieved April 21, 2025).

As to all these levels, the CCP serves as the primary trial courts. In Felony Criminal, Family, and Civil matters in excess of $50,000.00, cases are heard by the judge on bench or by a jury overseen by the bench. It also hears de novo appeals in cases arising from the minor courts. To distinguish, the CC and the SC, as third tier statewide courts, are appellate courts. The CC is unique. PA is the only state in America to have one. Although it is third tier, it handles original civil action claims brought by state and those cases filed against it. The CC also hears appeals raised from final orders of certain state agencies. See PA Statute, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 761-764. The SC handles appeals of Civil, Family, and Criminal cases arising from the CCP.

In this coming Primary, Philly has nine vacancies on its CCP. The Democrats have 10 candidates running for them. The GOP failed to nominate any candidates. The same for any of its local grass-root subgroups. As to the MC, there are 3 vacancies. The GOP, as well as any local grass-root subgroups, again failed to nominate anyone; whereas, the Democrats nominated 5 people.

Philly’s DA Office functions in pretty much all of these courts. In essence, the Office is almost always the second responder to crime and the victims, following the Police. If the Office decides to prosecute a case, it will begin in the minor courts. The presiding judge addresses whether the charges are reasonable; if serious enough, transfers them up to the CCP; conducts Preliminary Hearings; decides if bail should be set; and decides minor cases like: misdemeanors and civil small claims; landlord-tenant; and other problem-solving matters. This is what Judge Dugan did fairly and objectively for twelve years. Philly now needs him to apply those experiences as DA.

As to the noted judicial vacancies, there are excellent candidates in each race. For the CC, the GOP nominated attorney, Matthew Wolford, Esquire, while a local grass-root subgroup, opposed it and nominated attorney, Joshua Prince, Esquire. On the other side, the Democrats nominated Honorable Stella Tsai of the Philadelphia County CCP. She is running unopposed. For the SC vacancy, the GOP nominated Honorable President Judge, Anne Marie Wheatcraft, of the Chester County CCP. The same local grass-root subgroup, opposed and nominated attorney, Maria Battista, Esquire. The Democrats nominated Honorable Brendan P. Neuman of the Washington County CCP. He is running unopposed. For the CCP, the Democrats have 11 nominations for 9 vacant seats, and 6 nominations for 3 vacant seats in the MC.  Sadly, neither the GOP, nor its local subgroup, produced any candidates. Interested in them? See the City Commissioners’ website at: https://vote.phila.gov/voting/candidates-for-office/. See also Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, Meet the Candidates, 2025 Judicial Election @ https://www.pmconline.org/current-judge-selection-process (providing more details).

There is no doubt that every judicial candidate is qualified. But the Republican nominations only beckon the questions: If the GOP can find and nominate Republicans to run for intermediate level judicial vacancies, why did they not find and nominate ones to run for DA , CCP, or MC, in their coming Primary? Are the members of the GOP not really Trump Supporters? So why are they not following President Trump’s direction? The same goes for all local GOP grass-root subgroups.

It may very well be because those same leaders of the GOP tend to mislead their local subgroups. For example, back in February, many grass-root GOP subgroups throughout the state were at odds with their GOP, while simultaneously relying on it for party-related advice. They were disputing over who should be the next GOP Chairman. It could also be because certain subgroups, in actuality, were assisting the Democrats and the RINOs in dividing the Party to promote a candidate favorable to them. These circumstances reveal two significant problems within the state and local GOP—leadership and guidance.

The coming Primary makes it more obvious. For the CC, the GOPs endorsed Mr. Wolford. But, after receiving GOP advice, certain local grass-root subgroups endorsed Mr. Prince. For Superior Court, the GOPs endorsed Judge Wheatcraft. But, after receiving GOP advice, those local grass-root subgroups endorsed Ms. Battista. In the DA’s Race, despite knowing that a candidate needs to win in the Primary, the GOPs failed to produce a candidate and near simultaneously proposed that all Republican Voters use the Primary to “nominate” Judge Dugan as a write-in candidate. They call this the suburban “Pike-Allegheny County Plan”. And with this, the local grass-root subgroups that endorsed Mr. Prince and Ms. Batista agree. Sounds like a really great and elaborate plan of the Democrats and RINOs to win everything in November but the DA’s Office. Remember, in Philly the Democrats straight-lever always wins. And with this Pike-Allegheny Plan, Judge Dugan will not be part of that straight lever.

It means nothing to be a Trump Supporter if you do not follow his direction. He has proven that he will work with Democrats if they will work with him. He even hired some from Philly to defend him in his last Impeachment Trial. So in this coming Primary, that direction is to win by promoting law enforcement, order, and public safety. That would be a vote for Judge Dugan as a Democrat over Mr. Krasner in the Primary. One thing is for sure, he may not like President Trump, but his Honor agrees with that direction. Whether he likes President Trump is immaterial, irrelevant, highly prejudicial, and only serves to confuse the 2025 Elections before the Primary, and well before the General in November. If allowed to do so, Mr. Krasner and George Soros win.

They know that as well.

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And may God always Bless and keep Philadelphia and America safe.