HARRISBURG, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from Oct. 16.
Voters in Pennsylvania will be tasked with filling three open seats on two of Pennsylvania's appellate courts when they cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
They will also have to vote on whether to retain two Superior Court judges.
Here is a look at the candidates in each race.
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
The Commonwealth Court primarily handles cases involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies. It can also be a trial court when lawsuits are filed by or against Pennsylvania.
The winner of Tuesday's election will fill the vacancy from Judge Kevin Brobson (R) being elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021.
Wolf is currently a judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. He first took office in 2018 and his current term will expire on Jan. 1, 2024. He beat Bryan Neft in the Democratic primary election in May.
Wolf is the only candidate who is currently a sitting judge. He has over 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer for Civil Rights. The candidate is also a 20-year veteran of the Army and served as an officer in the Army Reserve for 17 years.
According to his website, "Judge Matt Wolf is the Supervising Civil Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. As Supervising Judge, he guided the court through the pandemic by focusing the court on equity and access to justice. He was the architect of the heralded eviction diversion program lauded as a national model that kept tenants in their homes and helped landlords."
Martin has 30 years of legal experience and has served in all three branches of state government. She was also an attorney for the Navy and the first woman to serve as the Pennsylvania Senate’s Secretary-Parliamentarian.
"Megan Martin shares our values of faith, family, hard, work and an admiration for the constitution, and holds a judicial philosophy you can trust," she says on her website.
Pennsylvania Superior Court
The Superior Court primarily deals with appeals in criminal and civil cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.
The two seats up for election were left open when Jacqueline Shogan retired from the court in 2022 and John T. Bender reached the mandatory age of retirement this November.
Beck started her legal career advocating for abused and neglected children in court with nonprofit KidsVoice. She then spent 10 years as a law clerk before becoming a civil litigator at a firm committed to providing free legal services to those in need.
During and after her college years, Beck served as a counselor at a residential facility for adjudicated delinquent girls and later as an assistant forensic interviewer at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Child Advocacy Center. Beck also spent time as an AmeriCorps Fellow working with kids on probation.
Lane has served in the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County since 2013. She has presided over human trafficking cases, domestic/family violence, sexual assault, attempted murder, arson, robbery and burglary.
After graduating from law school, Lane became a law clerk and a child advocate in family law. She has also been a public defender and represented impoverished adults and juveniles in criminal jury and waiver trials for adults and juveniles in need.
Battista has been involved in civil, criminal and administrative law for more than 15 years, along with being a former assistant district attorney.
"The opinions issued by our appellate courts have far-reaching impact on each of our lives," the candidate says on her website. "My years of experience in civil, criminal, and administrative law make me uniquely qualified to serve on the Superior Court, and I humbly ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 7th."
Smail Jr. has served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Westmoreland County for eight and a half years. He has ruled in favor of energy exploration in Westmoreland County and dismissed a constitutional challenge to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in a local civil suit.
Judge Smail worked as a probation and parole officer while attending Duquesne University School of Law. He says he is a lifelong Republican and served as the solicitor for the Westmoreland Republican Committee for over 15 years.
Retentions
Retention elections are held when a judge's initial 10-year term that they earned in a partisan election expires. Instead of facing new opponents, these judges are listed on the ballot with a "yes" or "no" question for voters to decide if they should serve another 10-year term. Both Panella and Stabile are vying for retention to the Superior Court.
President Judge Panella first took office in January 2004. He has worked in law since 1980 and is a member of five bar organizations. Panella received his bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1977 and went on to graduate from the Catholic University School of Law in 1980.
Stabile assumed office in January 2014. He earned his bachelor's degree from SUNY Stonybrook in 1979 and graduated from Dickinson School of Law in 1982. Stabile served as Pennsylvania's deputy attorney general from 1984-1987. He became a partner of Dilworth Paxson LLP in 1992 and was the managing member of its Harrisburg office until 2013.