The LuLac Edition #3496 May 12th, 2017

JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT 

(you vote for one)

Pennsylvania is the only state holding judicial elections in 2017 that uses partisan elections to choose its state-level judges. Democrats control the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by a 5-2 majority. This control cannot change in 2017 since only one justice, Republican Sallie Mundy, is up for partisan election. 
On the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the terms of Chief Justice Thomas Saylor (R) and Justices Debra Todd (D) and Sallie Mundy (R) are ending. Justices Saylor and Todd filed stand for retention in order to serve further terms. 
Justice Mundy is a 2016 appointee who filed to stand in a partisan election in order to serve for a full term. She is being challenged by Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff.  Mundy was appointed to the supreme court in 2016 by Gov. Tom Wolf . By Pennsylvania tradition, a judge appointed to fill a midterm vacancy does not stand in the election to fill the seat. However, Gov. Wolf stated upon Mundy's appointment that he did not expect her to adhere to this tradition and expected her to run in the election for a full term.
Only Justice Sallie Mundy  and Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff filed to run for Mundy's seat on the supreme court. Because they are the only candidates, they will advance through the May 16 primary and face each other in the November general election.
Sallie Mundy: In 1984, she graduated from Washington & Jefferson College. In 1987, she graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
After law school she served in a judicial clerkship for the Tioga County Courts of Common Pleas. In 1988, she entered private practice, working as a defense attorney in the field of medical malpractice
Mundy was nominated by Governor Tom Wolf to the seat vacated by Justice J. Michael Eakin on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and confirmed on June 27, 2016.
She is part-owner of a small cattle farm, raising Scottish Highland cattle, in Tioga County
Dwayne D. Woodruff…Dwayne D. Woodruff is a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Woodruff was first elected to the court in 2005 and was retained in 2015. Woodruff ran for election to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015 but was defeated in the Democratic primary on May 19, 2015.
Woodruff is running as a Democrat for election to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2017. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Republican Sallie Mundy in the November general election. Here's Woodruff's resume.
2006-2026: Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania.
1997-2003: Founding partner, Woodruff, Flaherty & Fardo
1988-1997: Attorney, Meyer Darragh
1988: Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar
1979-1990: Football player, Pittsburgh Steeler.
(ballotpedia, LuLac)