Democrats Jill Beck and Timika Lane have defeated Republicans Maria Battista and Harry Smail to hold two open seats on Pennsylvania’s Superior Court.
Unofficial results show Beck with 28% of the vote and Lane with 25%.
The 15-member panel considers criminal, civil, and family cases that are appealed from lower courts such as the Courts of Common Pleas.
Two sitting judges on the Superior Court — Jack Panella and Vic Stabile are also leading in their retention election. If they win, they’ll serve for another 10 years.
The judges were Democrat Jack Panella, who serves as the Superior Court’s president judge, and Republican Vic Stabile.
When the winning judges are sworn in next year, there will be nine Democrats and six Republicans serving on the bench.
The Democratic candidates received much of their support from labor unions, party-affiliated PACs, and a PAC run by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. They also raised more funds for their campaigns than their counterparts.
Beck is a Pittsburgh-based attorney who has worked in commercial litigation for Blank Rome LLP — one of the largest law firms in the United States.
She has been highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. According to them, she has “the highest combination of legal ability, experience, and integrity.”
Timika Lane has served for a decade as a judge on the city’s Court of Common Pleas. Like Beck, she is “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. According to them, they are “confident the candidate is capable of outstanding performance as a Superior Court of Pennsylvania judge.”
