Per the PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy (on the legislature's middle of the night pay theivery) 'it was an act of courage.' Yeah right. Anybody heard from him, or any of the other PASupremes today? The validation of the payraise was the 'worth of the jurists' in the market place, ie., how much money they (the judges) could be making in private practice. Well, I guess Mr. Nigro will be finding out his market value real soon. Wonder if he will court law practice clients with the lavish dinners and $80.00 bottles of wine he so liberally put on this Commonwealth tab.
As to why Newman was retained...I put the blame on Tommy Ridge (for non PA FReepers, he is our former governor in addition to his homeland security gig). Ridge recorded radio ads and an annoying 'phone call to the faithful' on behalf of Her Honor, Sandy Newman. The ad was just so warm and fuzzy, and it repeated the she was the first woman elected to the PA Supreme Court. My thoughts, is it had been two men running (not hoisting the feminist banner of the groundbreaking woman) BOTH would have been voted out.
But the real winner today are the 21% who went to the polls yesterday. We made a change. Finally.
She can thank her lucky stars because of him. She retained that seat by the skin of her teeth. Plus some who voted for her did not want Fast Eddie to appoint 2 dem justices to the court.
Amen to your post! We made our voices heard.
Now to throw out the rest of the rascals next year--the legislators who voted themselves this raise.