Friend of labor, Judge Kevin Dougherty, sets sights on historical Supreme Court election

After a successful primary election in May, Democratic candidate Judge Kevin Dougherty of the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court needs your votes to fill one of the three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. This year’s election will determine the course of how Pennsylvania’s laws will be upheld as an unprecedented three of seven seats must be filled. Judge Dougherty, a long-time supporter of union rights, has been recommended by more than 100 leading officials and organizations.

“Considered fair, open-minded, courteous and a good listener, he also is a hard worker and a consensus builder….the Commission recommends [Dougherty] to serve on the Supreme Court,” said the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Commission.

Currently as administrative judge of the Trial Division of the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District (FJD), Judge Dougherty oversees all aspects of the adult civil and criminal divisions of Pennsylvania’s largest trial court — a system of 72 judges. Before assuming the position, Dougherty was the Administrative Judge for the FJD’s Family Division, and prior to that, from 2003-2005, was the Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Branch.

Prior to being elected to the Common Pleas bench in 2001 and retained in 2011 for another 10-year term, Dougherty was in private practice both before and after serving as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia from 1990- 1995. He is a graduate of Temple University and Antioch School of Law.

The general election will be Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Be sure to get out and vote: make your voice heard!