CITY HALL SAM: Justice Vs. Justice, Mano A Mano

The personal grudge match between Supreme Court JUSTICES RON CASTILLE and SEAMUS McCAFFERY has gone to a new level. A front-page Philadelphia Inquirer article discussed the referral fees Justice McCaffery’s wife LISA RAPAPORT apparently received while working as the chief judicial aide for Justice McCaffery. There appeared to be no ethical violations or any wrongdoing. Rather it alluded to appearances of impropriety. But the article and its anonymous sources are probably more realistically the continuation of the proxy war between the two Justices.

The fight previously reared its ugly head in the investigation of Philadelphia Traffic Court. Justice Castille commissioned and made public a report in which Justice McCaffery was mentioned for possibly seeking special treatment for his wife’s traffic ticket. Philadelphia has enough problems without its two justices on the Supreme Court feuding. This turf war must end and this public spat must cease.

The Democratic Party Policy Committee will take place early next week. The policy committee makes endorsements for elective office in the city and judicial candidates have been waiting with bated breath. The endorsement by the policy committee could make or break many candidates and it often does. The powerful committee is composed of Democratic CHAIRMAN BOB BRADY and a dozen or so of his most-trusted word leaders including powerful union boss and 1^ST WARD LEADER JOHN DOUGHERTY. Also on the policy committee is well-respected ANNA VERNA, the former City Council President. The sight of dozens of would-be judges waiting nervously on the sidewalk outside City Committee is something to behold.

Candidates can, and many do, choose to run even without the endorsement, but they always incur the wrath of the Democratic City Committee at a later time. Among those judicial hopefuls waiting for word of an endorsement are CHRISTINE HOPE, JIM CRUMLISH, CHRIS MALLIOS, SIERRA STREET, JOE FERNANDES, SCOTT O’KEEFE, RICHARD GORDON and a host of others.

Also hoping for endorsements were City CONTROLLER ALAN BUTKOVITZ and DISTRICT ATTORNEY SETH WILLIAMS. Conventional wisdom is both will easily receive the endorsement from the policy committee. However, the main challengers for City Controller, BRETT MANDEL and MICHAEL WILLIAMS, will likely show up and attempt to receive the endorsement. This always creates nervous tension bordering on hostility between candidates. Chairman Brady always does a nice job of achieving gender and racial balance on the ticket. The Philadelphia Democratic Party represents tremendous diversity and, unlike most big cities, the official ticket usually accurately reflects that diversity.

In Philadelphia it is often helpful for would-be judge candidates to be escorted into the policy committee by well-respected ward leaders. Some candidates are escorted by more than one ward leader, which is also helpful. But at the end of the day, Brady and the policy committee will select the ticket which most reflects Democratic Party values and also achieves highest probability of a successful election. Even though the party does not deliver success at the same rate as perhaps a decade ago, it delivers at a far-higher rate than other big cities. Also the candidate has a far-greater chance of getting elected with the endorsement than without it. It also helps to be a great fundraiser, which gives candidates a chance of appearing on as many Democratic ballots as possible.

Another issue aiding the likelihood of becoming a judge is a good place on the ballot. It is quite difficult for someone who draws the number-one position to be defeated for election; therefore it’s also in the interest of the party to endorse the likely winner. Since this is an off-year election, the party has greater control on election day. The voter turnout will likely be lower than usual, so the influence of committee people and the official party ballot will be significantly greater.

STATE TREASURER ROB McCORD and STATE SEN. DAYLIN LEACH were on the panel for the Progressive Summit in Harrisburg. The Progressive Summit is the key gathering of liberal groups in Pennsylvania. This is coveted base of support for Democratic gubernatorial candidates. CONGRESSWOMAN ALLYSON SCHWARTZ garnered roughly 37% of the summit’s delegates in a straw poll for Governor. Political operative TOM NARDI attended the summit on behalf of STATE SEN. MIKE STACK, who may be a candidate for Governor.

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