Democratic Judges typically tend to think outside the "lock'em up and throw away the key" mentality. They realize that treating the disease rather than the symptom is the best way to reduce repeat offender cases. A significant number of local crimes, especially robbery, spousal/child abuse and assaults, not to mention DUIs, are committed by people who have some form of substance abuse problem. Treatment is cheaper than jail and it attempts to solve the underlying cause of the offense.

SUPERIOR COURT The Superior Court’s main function is as an appeals court and its original jurisdiction is limited. As an appeals court, the Superior Court’s jurisdiction is less specialized than the Commonwealth’s; therefore, it hears a wide variety of petitions, both criminal and civil, from Common Pleas courts. Such petitions include all manner of cases from child custody to armed robbery to breach of contract.

In other words if you don't like the decision that was handed down by a Common Pleas judge your first appeal to have it overturned is here. For this reason it’s very important to have Democratic judges.

COMMONWEALTH COURT- The Commonwealth Court was created as a court to hear cases brought against and by the Commonwealth. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction. It can decide on civil actions brought against the Commonwealth government or an officer of the government, usually seeking equitable relief or declaratory judgment and not damages - and civil actions brought by the Commonwealth government (some of these could also be brought in the Courts of Common Pleas) and issues under the Election Code involving statewide offices.

Election Code Issues could involve cases of voter suppression tactics or voter fraud. Its appellate jurisdiction includes: appeals relating to decisions made by most state administrative agencies, appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas involving Eminent Domain proceedings (i.e. LAND USE ) and most local government matters other than contract issues, including actions for damages

Democratic Judges on this court are very important as they tend to be more sympathetic to people seeking favorable judgments on unemployment issues, (i.e. UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION CASES where the former employer is trying to deny benefits) claims against heath care providers or insurers and Eminent Domain issues (i.e. whether or not the state can take land for bypasses etc.) Also any election/voter issues are decided here. Who do YOU want deciding voter suppression cases???

THE PA SUPREME COURT The Court’s original jurisdiction is non-exclusive and includes cases:

• of habeas corpus, cases involving detention of a party and determination of whether that party has been denied liberty without due process-
  
  
• of quo warranto, lawsuits challenging the right of an individual to hold a public office, alleging that the individual is holding the office illegally.

Appeals from final orders of Common Pleas courts include:

• cases involving matters prescribed by general rule
  
  
• the right to public office
  
  
• matters where the qualifications, tenure or right to serve or the manner of service of any member of the judiciary is in question
  
  
• review of death sentences matters where the right or power of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision to create or issue indebtedness is in question
  
  
• statutes and rules held unconstitutional by the Courts of Common Pleas
  
  
• matters where the right to practice law is involved.
  
  
• Legislative Reapportionment Commission - redistricting based on the census- how the state legislature and congressional districts are drawn.

The Court also has exclusive jurisdiction of appeals from Common Pleas courts involving the death penalty. Such cases are automatically appealed to the Supreme Court.

Finally, the Court possesses extraordinary jurisdiction to assume jurisdiction of any case pending before a lower court involving an issue of immediate public importance. This it can do on its own or upon petition from any party and is commonly known as king’s bench power.

Look at the highlighted sections of the jurisdictions of the Supreme Court and ask yourself who you would rather have deciding these cases- A Republican or Democrat. Habeas Corpus is the central issue surrounding Guantanamo. Many Republicans seem to think its ok to hold certain people without due process.

In 2010 we will have the census. This will decide if and how congressional districts are rearranged in PA. The PA Supreme Court will make the final determination on how these districts will be redrawn.

And last but not least the death penalty. The Supreme Court reviews all death penalty cases. Again ask yourself who want deciding them.

Finally, it should be said that regardless of party affiliation all judges are bound by the canons and ethics of the legal profession and by established law. In many cases their hands are tied by this. State courts can rarely, if ever, overturn Federal law.--