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For First Time, Pennsylvania Voters Oust a Supreme Court Justice
AP News ^ | November 9, 2005 | Peter Jackson

Posted on 11/09/2005 1:58:41 AM PST by Kaslin

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pennsylvanians have denied a state Supreme Court justice a second term, a sign of the public's anger at lawmakers for pushing through a pay raise last summer. A second justice won another term only narrowly.

Justice Russell M. Nigro, who got 49 percent of vote Tuesday, was the first statewide judge to be turned out of office in a yes-or-no retention election in the 36 years such elections have been held.

A Democrat, Nigro received strong support in and around his native Philadelphia but was overwhelmed by lopsided margins in south-central and southwestern regions of the state, where opposition to the pay raise was concentrated.

Justice Sandra Schultz Newman won a second term with 54 percent of the vote, a close margin for a retention election. In the last judicial election in 2001, the three jurists on the ballot all were retained by margins of 3-1.

Both candidates shifted their campaigns into high gear last week as lawmakers cast preliminary but decisive votes to repeal the pay-raise law - passed during the dead of night July 7 with no public notice or hearings. Legislators had increased their salaries 16 percent to 34 percent to at least $81,050 - more than any state except California.

Activists who protested the raises suggested the court bore some responsibility for the climate of secrecy in state government.

Nigro's term ends in January, when Gov. Ed Rendell will appoint a temporary successor. Voters will elect a replacement justice to a 10-year term in November 2007.

Citizen activists who advocated "no" votes on retaining the two justices cheered Nigro's defeat.

"It's a clear signal that Pennsylvanians have awoke from their long slumber," said Russ Diamond, chairman of PACleanSweep, a political action committee that aims to challenge incumbent legislators.

Nigro did not return a telephone message early Wednesday.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: judge; judgislators; outenthecrooks; payraise
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To: Kaslin

TENN ousted one a few years ago, because she was anti-death penalty. We nearly got a second a few years later, but he was black and screamed racisim very loud.


21 posted on 11/09/2005 4:55:48 AM PST by GailA (Glory be to GOD and his only son Jesus.)
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To: Kaslin

This is a good result, and it sends a clear message to the PA legislature. The (illegal) pay raise issue will not go away. We will remember in the 2006 primary and general elections.


22 posted on 11/09/2005 4:57:05 AM PST by ILikeFriedman
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To: the tongue

"make sure you vote against your state rep AND senator if they're up for election next year too."

I'll try, but that usually means voting for a Dem. Sometimes, I just don't vote FOR certain candidates, or the opponents.

Do any of you other PA voters know why PA is one of only FOUR states to have a full-time legislature? Is there any way to change that?


23 posted on 11/09/2005 5:00:56 AM PST by Ike
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To: the tongue

Both getting voted out.


24 posted on 11/09/2005 5:10:44 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Born Conservative
The big no votes came in the south central and Pittsburgh. Hopefully, this is a harbinger that a lot of legislators will be replaced by conservatives in primaries and the newcomers will be more willing to buck the Philly & suburban cow-milking machines.

And we do want to pin this raise on Rendell.

25 posted on 11/09/2005 5:15:54 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: Kaslin
Pennsylvanians have denied a state Supreme Court justice a second term, a sign of the public's anger at lawmakers for pushing through a pay raise last summer.

How do they figure?

26 posted on 11/09/2005 5:17:07 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: Kaslin

We in Nebraska did that about 15 years ago when the State Supreme Court started to get out of line. Best thing in the world for reigning in the others. I strongly recommend it.


27 posted on 11/09/2005 5:17:52 AM PST by jim_trent
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To: Kaslin

I hope this means that I will continue to see the giant, pink pig on the news channels from Pittsburgh. They really crack me up!


28 posted on 11/09/2005 5:21:59 AM PST by WV Mountain Mama (You can't spell liberal without the letters L- I- E.)
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To: Kaslin

It's way past time that the members of our elite, tax-fed class get the message that they are NOT royalty, and they CAN be fired. No incumbent should feel safe if he/she is not working hard at representing what the people want, not what their party wants. We need to start cleaning out incumbents of both parties who won't protect our children, our borders, and our pocketbooks, and who worry more about what the msm thinks than what their constituents think.


29 posted on 11/09/2005 5:26:18 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: Kaslin

Sweet! I voted NO on retaining both.


30 posted on 11/09/2005 5:29:33 AM PST by TheBigB (<----cooler than the other side of the pillow.)
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To: Tribune7

I voted :0)


31 posted on 11/09/2005 5:35:08 AM PST by Mo1
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To: Kaslin
Voters will elect a replacement justice to a 10-year term in November 2007.

That's incredible that residents have to wait two years to select a replacement. There will be elections held before then in Pennsylvania.

32 posted on 11/09/2005 5:42:25 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Mo1

I voted no too. It felt good!


33 posted on 11/09/2005 5:46:26 AM PST by Geoffrey
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To: SauronOfMordor
I voted against the b******s

Add a few more letters next time, took me 10 minutes to figure it out, (I thought you spelled bullsh*t wrong)

34 posted on 11/09/2005 5:47:34 AM PST by bigjoesaddle ("Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats." -- P.J. O'Rourke)
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To: Kaslin
A Democrat, Nigro received strong support in and around his native Philadelphia but was overwhelmed by lopsided margins in south-central and southwestern regions of the state, where opposition to the pay raise was concentrated.

Nervous, Rendell?

I guess the Philly vote-making machine can't get worked up for a mere judicial retention.

It's about time a judge went. They should go more often. The next step is to get the House to impeach at least one federal judge every year.

35 posted on 11/09/2005 5:53:44 AM PST by AmishDude (Amishdude, the one and only.)
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To: Kaslin
< mindless democrat mode > Justice Russell M. Nigro, who got 49 percent of vote Tuesday, was the first statewide judge to be turned out of office in a yes-or-no retention election in the 36 years such elections have been held.

They can't do that! It's racist to deprive a Nigro of his income. Unfair! Unfair! Unfair!< /mindless democrat mode >

< republican mode >Hey bozo's it's spelled NIgro. And no one has a constitutional right to an income. (Stupid dems!)

36 posted on 11/09/2005 5:53:56 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: Kaslin

This is hugh in Pa. We now need to keep the pressure on. Even if they back off the pay raise, we still need to vote out every incumbent.


37 posted on 11/09/2005 6:08:50 AM PST by oldtimer2 (R from Lancaster County)
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To: Kaslin
"Nigro did not return a telephone message early Wednesday."

Kinda hard responding when the tongue is busily employed licking wounds.

38 posted on 11/09/2005 6:12:58 AM PST by azhenfud (He who always is looking up seldom finds others' lost change.)
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To: Tribune7
Justice Russell M. Nigro, who got 49 percent of vote Tuesday, was the first statewide judge to be turned out of office in a yes-or-no retention election in the 36 years such elections have been held.

A Democrat, Nigro received strong support in and around his native Philadelphia but was overwhelmed by lopsided margins in south-central and southwestern regions of the state, where opposition to the pay raise was concentrated.

Sweet. I bet this'll be all over the "Today" show.

39 posted on 11/09/2005 6:15:09 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: Kaslin

A solution to judicial tyranny. Throw the bums out.


40 posted on 11/09/2005 6:40:47 AM PST by weegee (To understand the left is to rationalize how abortion can be a birthright.)
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