Elect Judge Maria McLaughlin to the Pennsylvania Superior Court


This was the official website for Judge Maria McLaughlin cam[paign to be elected as a judge for the Pennsylvania Superior Court. She won the 2017 Democratic Primary for Pennsylvania Superior Court and went on to eventually top the nine person field in the 2017 general election for Pennsylvania Superior Court with 14.9% of the vote. Her ten-year term expires on January 3, 2028.
Content is from the site's 2016 -2017 archived pages, as well as from other outside sources.

 

Philly Judge McLaughlin Enters Superior Court Race

Written by Paul Engelkemier, Managing Editor | http://www.politicspa.com


Court of Common Pleas Judge Maria McLaughlin formally announced her bid for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania this week.  She was joined at her kickoff by Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.  

“Growing up in a row home in the City, I learned early on about determination and courage. I’ve carried these values with me throughout my life,” McLaughlin said during her announcement.  

“I am proud to support my friend Judge Maria McLaughlin for Superior Court. She has been a superior Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge who has dedicated much of her life to public service and the law as an attorney, an Assistant District Attorney and a Judge. It is fortunate for Pennsylvania that the people of Philadelphia will now be sharing her with the rest of the Commonwealth,” Stack said in a statement emailed to PoliticsPA.  

“We are here to kick off Judge McLaughlin’s campaign for Superior Court Judge and we will be back for her inauguration,” DePasquale said at the announcement.

McLaughlin is a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia.  She is also a member of the National Association of Women Judges, and a member of the Widener University School of Law Alumni board.  

McLaughlin received a “recommended” rating from the PA Bar Association.  She joins Judge Carolyn Nichols, Bill Caye, Albert J. Flora Jr., Judge Deborah A. Kunselman, Judge H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr., Judge Lillian Harris Ransom in the race for the four open seats on the Superior Court.  The State Democratic Party will meet this weekend to choose its slate of candidates for the judicial elections.

17 thoughts on “Philly Judge McLaughlin Enters Superior Court Race”

  1. Nick D says:
    May 16, 2017

    Maria is a fantastic person, I’ve known her prior to her going to Penn State. Maria is smart, dedicated, ethical and energetic, as well as a loving mom. I’ve watched her career blossom from the DA’s Office to her taking the bench, all good, solid and moral work. State of Pennsylvania will only benefit from Maria’s appointment.

  2. Donna Schofield says:
    February 10, 2017

    I knew Judge Mclaughlin when she worked as an attorney. She is a very intelligent woman. She is very personable and well like by everyone who worked in Family Court. I don’t know how she is on the bench but from personal experience I believe she would be a fair and honest Judge. She has my vote.

  3. Marianne says:
    February 9, 2017

    Her qualifications speak for themselves. She seems to have worked in the legal system her entire career. I certainly doubt she would be where she is if not by her OWN merits!!! That being said, I know we are all entitled to our own opinions, no matter how ridiculous and unfounded they are.

  4. Marianne says:
    February 9, 2017

    @bad judges… Yes. I realized after I entered that I typed Supreme instead of Superior. She would be a welcomed addition to any court.

  5. bad judges says:
    February 9, 2017

    Marianne: Yes, the PA Supreme Court could use her. She’d be a good replacement for the unqualified and corrupt female hack from Allegheny County who recently tarnished the already tarnished reputation of this court.
    Unfortunately, she is running only for the PA Superior Court.

  6. Curious says:
    February 9, 2017

    I wonder how many of those first 5-6 comments are the same person…

  7. Go Stealers says:
    February 8, 2017

    @Lee – is Jonathan Saidel relevant in state wide politics? Wasn’t he a philly politician 10 or so years ago? Either way, I don’t know McLaughlin’s personal connections, but her bio looks good. She looks young, but it could be the picture. Sounds like the experience is there.

  8. Lee says:
    February 8, 2017

    She would get nowhere in this race if she wasn’t a family friend of Bob Brady since she was a child and if she wasn’t married to Jonathan Saidel. Let’s be honest-those are her real “qualifications” to run statewide.

  9. Marianne says:
    February 8, 2017

    Judge McLaughlin is exceptionally good at what she does. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania would be hard pressed to find a more qualified, fair and hard-working candidate. She has my vote!

  10. news_guy12 says:
    February 8, 2017

    I’ve never before seen a judicial announcement quite like hers. With elected officials from Erie, Allegheny, Carbon, Northampton,Berks, Bucks ,Philadelphia etc. Judge McLaughlin shows her strength throughout the state.

  11. voter says:
    February 8, 2017

    Terrific resume, good luck

  12. VG says:
    February 8, 2017

    Judge McLaughlin has distinguished herself as an attorney and a judge. She is a judge for our times and for all people .

  13. rick w. says:
    February 8, 2017

    Judge McLaughlin is not just another pretty face,she has a record of accomplishments.

  14. Pollster says:
    February 8, 2017

    Strongest candidate in the race. Democratic or Republican. 

  15. Tom T says:
    February 8, 2017

    I’ve practiced in front of her as an attorney, truly an exceptional judge. Best of Luck.

  16. Zakrey Bissell says:
    February 8, 2017

    I think for she will win this race in 2017 with support on her side.

 

 

Constituent Comment: Lora Grey: The work she does with school children is remarkable and selfless. Her concerns are genuine. My son was studying the philosophy of DeCartes and she noticed the book he was carrying. The 2 of them proceeded to have a very engaged conversation about the notion of "nothing" and the views of DeCartes - this really happened. She also pointed him to a website that had more information on this topic. This is not the work of an ordinary politician. This is someone who cares about our kids.

 

Judge McLaughlin sponsors 8th grade field trip and mock trial for students from St. Philip Neri, Montgomery County.

Judge McLaughlin sponsors 8th grade field trip and mock trial for students from St. Philip Neri, Montgomery County.

 

The Honorable Maria McLaughlin is a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District. Judge McLaughlin presides over both family law and criminal law matters.

Judge McLaughlin currently serves as the co-chair on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas FYI Committee and as the current vice-president of the Nicholas A. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court. She has on numerous occasions participated on judicial panels and has lectured for the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association, PA Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Judge McLaughlin has appeared as a guest on local television and radio shows to discuss a variety of family law topics.

Judge McLaughlin currently serves as the co-chair on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas FYI Committee and as the current vice-president of the Nicholas A. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court. She has on numerous occasions participated on judicial panels and has lectured for the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association, PA Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Judge McLaughlin has appeared as a guest on local television and radio shows to discuss a variety of family law topics.



Judge Mclaughlin participates in 2016 Recovery Walk in Philadelphia.

Judge McLaughlin is a member of the National Association of Women Judges, a member of the Widener University School of Law Alumni board, a longstanding board member of the “Do the Write Thing” national youth anti-violence campaign, and an Executive member of the Central High School’s Home and School Board. In addition to her judicial duties, Judge McLaughlin was an Acting City Commissioner for the 2015 elections.

Prior to being elected to the bench, Judge McLaughlin served as Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Child Support Enforcement Unit. She was an attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for 19 years. She was one of the youngest female Chiefs appointed by District Attorney Lynne Abraham.

Judge McLaughlin is a graduate of Widener University School of Law where she received her J.D. in 1992 and her B.S. from Penn State University in 1988. Judge McLaughlin is a member of both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the US District Court for the Eastern District to PA, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Judge McLaughlin and her chairman Gov. Ed Rendell celebrate the holidays at Mark Segal's party.

Judge McLaughlin and her chairman Gov. Ed Rendell celebrate the holidays at Mark Segal’s party.

 

Maria McLaughlin

Ms. McLaughlin is a former Chief Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia County. She was the head of the Child Support Enforcement Unit. She served as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office from 1992-2011 and was appointed Chief in 2003 by the Honorable Lynne Abraham.

In addition to her duties as Chief, in 2009 current District Attorney Seth Williams appointed Ms. McLaughlin Director of the Family Justice Center Initiative. This center will serve all victims of domestic violence. Ms. McLaughlin has successfully tried thousands of cases involving child support and paternity issues in the Court of Common Pleas. Under Ms. McLaughlin’s direction the Child Support Enforcement Unit has collected millions of dollars in unpaid child support for children in Philadelphia. Ms. McLaughlin has also handled numerous family law appellate issues before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Ms. McLaughlin is a graduate of the Widener University School of Law, where she sits on the Alumni Board of Directors. She also currently sits on the Executive Board for the Central High School Home and School Association. She is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ms. McLaughlin lectures for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Trial Lawyers Association, the Mayor’s Office of Community Service, numerous community organizations, schools and is often a guest on local radio and television shows.

Ms. McLaughlin is a life-long resident of Philadelphia where she continues to raise her two teenage sons. Her campaign is co-chaired by District Attorney R. Seth Williams and the former City Controller Jonathan S. Saidel. She has been recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Ms. McLaughlin has also been endorsed by: Democratic City Committee, Republican City Committee, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22, AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council, District Council 33 and IBEW Local 98.

 


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Judge Maria McLaughlin

http://www.pacourts.us

Term

January 2018 to December 2027

Education

  • Delaware Law School of Widener University J.D. 1992
  • Pennsylvania State University B.S. 1988

Professional Experience

  • Elected a judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania 2017
  • Elected a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas 2011
  • Chief District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office 2002-2011
  • Assistant Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office 1992-2001
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Superior Court of Pennsylvania 1991

Memberships and Associations

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Judges
  • Justinian Law Society
  • Brehon Law Society
  • Sons and Daughters of Italy, Roxborough
  • Alumni Board of Directors Delaware Law School of Widener University

Awards and Honors

  • Delaware Law School of Widener University Alumnus of the Year
  • Delaware Law School of Widener University Outstanding Service Award
  • Sons and Daughters of Italy Person of the Year

 

 

 

 

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