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Jewish Judicial Candidates Make Their Case
L OCA L
JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF
IN THE MAY 18 primary
election, Pennsylvania’s voters
will select candidates from their
party to run in the November
general election. In the state court
system, there will be openings on
benches at every level, from the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
to the magisterial courts.

Seven Jewish candidates
Wendi Barish Photo by Laura Eaton
responded to our request to
complete questionnaires. Their
responses are listed in alpha-
betical order.

Act of 1964, and I now want
to serve as a judge and ensure
Wendi Barish
people’s inalienable rights are
Running for: Judge, Philadelphia protected. No matter what
Court of Common Pleas, 1st you look like, where you were
born, where you do or do not
Judicial District
Why are you running?: I was worship, or who you love, all
born and raised in Northeast people deserve to be treated
Philadelphia in the home of with dignity and respect.

How does being Jewish
my grandparents, Muriel and
influence your judicial philos-
Jerry Snyder. I received social
ophy/professional ethics?:
services as a child and want to
There is
a portion
of the
Torah, give back to the Philadelphia
Deuteronomy 16:19,
which community, which I attribute
addresses this
very issue:
“You to helping raise me. We are in
shall not
judge unfairly;
you the midst of a new type of civil
shall show
no partiality;
you rights movement. I have been
shall not
take bribes,
for bribes
working as a lawyer for nearly
25 years to protect the rights blind the eyes of the discerning
afforded under the Civil Rights and upset the plea of the just.”
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Jill Beck
Photo by Brandy Ringer
Being Jewish has instilled a
sense of community and justice
within me that I will carry to
the bench.

Jill Beck
Running for: Judge, Superior
Court of Pennsylvania
Why are you running?:
I am running for Superior
Court to fulfill my goal and
passion of ensuring a fair
and equitable court system
in Pennsylvania. I have spent
my legal career helping people
and entities achieve substantial
justice on both sides of the
Superior Court bench — as a
law clerk and as an attorney
— working to ensure that all
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Craig Levin
Courtesy of Craig Levin for Judge
Pennsylvanians, particularly
the most disadvantaged among
us, have equal access to justice.

I now hope to take that dedica-
tion, experience and integrity
to one of Pennsylvania’s top
appellate courts.

How does being Jewish
influence your judicial philos-
ophy/professional ethics?: My
Jewish upbringing stressed
service to others, equity, and
equal treatment of all people.

I have always been an active
volunteer, and from the time I
began working at 16, I worked
to help those in need. I can put a
name and a face to nearly every
kind of case that the Superior
Court reviews. I will never cast
a case aside as unimportant
because I know each case is
unquestionably the most
important case to the litigants
involved. Every decision is
driven by the law as written
by the General Assembly, but
interpreted by the court, and
the precise facts of the case.

I will ensure the record is
reviewed completely, the law is
thoroughly reviewed, and the
decision is written in a manner
that everyone — from the most
seasoned lawyer to the pro se
litigant — can understand.

Craig Levin
Running for:
Judge, Philadelphia Court of Common
Pleas, 1st Judicial District
Why are you running?: I
have always wanted to be a
Maria McLaughlin
Photo by R.D. Gallego
judge. I recognize the immense
opportunity that I will have
every day to make a difference
in people’s lives. As a lawyer,
my job has been to seek justice
for my clients, to right wrongs,
whether it’s a business dispute,
an injury or a criminal matter
where just consequences have
to be determined. As a judge,
I will have the privilege and
great responsibility to admin-
ister justice.

I have been a trial lawyer in
Philadelphia for 31 years. I have
personally handled over 2,000
cases and tried over 500 cases.

I am running now because I
know I can make a difference
and we need people who care in
positions of high responsibility.

I have seen and experienced
all kinds of judges and judging
styles, from good to bad and
everything in between. I know
that I will be one of the good
ones because I really care. It’s
an incredibly exciting time to be
able to take an active role in our
democracy. How does being Jewish
influence your judicial philos-
ophy/professional ethics?:
Some fundamental aspects of
Judaism have and will continue
to serve as a philosophical and
ethical framework, not only
professionally but personally as
well. First, the concept of tikkun
olam, to repair the world, to
make the world a better place
and more just. This, coupled
with the fundamental Jewish
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Amir Stark
Photo by Gabriela Barrantes
Daniel Sulman Photo by Kevin Geary
judge on our Superior Court of
Pennsylvania, I had the honor
of taking that oath once again.

I promise that if I have the
privilege of serving as a justice
on our state’s highest court I
will make Pennsylvania proud.

How does being Jewish
infl uence your judicial philos-
ophy/professional ethics?:
Th ere are codes of conduct
within Jewish law that help
guide me every day. To judge
people fairly, to balance
humility and self-esteem and
to value the truth are just some
examples of how being Jewish
has informed the manner in
which I conduct myself as a
judge and human being. To
me, leading an ethical and
moral life rooted in my Jewish
faith is something I bring with
Maria McLaughlin
Running for: Judge, Supreme me when ruling on decisions
that aff ect the lives of so many.

Court of Pennsylvania
Why are you running?:
I am running to be a justice Amir Stark
on our Supreme Court of Running for: Judge, Th e Court
Pennsylvania because there is of Common Pleas of Bucks
no greater honor than to serve. County, 7th Judicial District
I am a lifelong Pennsylvanian
Why are you running?: My
and giving back was instilled decision to run for judge arises
in me at a very young age. from my unwavering belief in
It’s what I’ve done my entire the importance of conserva-
life and what I’ve brought my tive values on the bench and
children up to do as well. I my steadfast desire to preserve
took an oath as a young assis- the legacy of the retiring Hon.

tant district attorney to serve, Alan M. Rubenstein, whose
because I knew the importance soon-to-be vacant seat on the
of doing for the greater good. bench I seek to fi ll. A judge
I had the privilege of taking must never legislate from the
another oath as a Court of bench. Rather, a judge must
Common Pleas judge because apply the existing law to the
I knew I could make an even particular circumstances of
bigger impact on the bench.

When I was sworn in as a
See Judicial, Page 27
tradition of questioning every-
thing, studying and learning,
will inform my approach and
guide me as I decide, “what
is just?”
What is justice? It depends.

In whose eyes? From what
perspective? Th e victim, the
accused? Justice cannot be
served if we do not recognize
that all people, especially in
the criminal justice system,
are deserving of dignity and
respect, no matter the alleged
off ense. Th is does not mean the
consequences will not be severe
where warranted. However, it is
a baseline from which to start
that will permit understanding
what is just with regard to that
particular individual.

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