Ellen H. Ceisler
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2018 - Present
2028
7
Ellen H. Ceisler is a judge on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.[1] She was elected in 2017. Her current term expires on January 2, 2028.
She was previously a judge Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.[2] Ceisler was first elected to that court in 2007. She stood for and won re-election in 2017 for another ten-year term; however, because she was elected to the Commonwealth Court, she left the Court of Common Pleas when her 2007 term expired on December 31, 2017.
Education
Ceisler received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law.[3]
Career
Prior to her election to the Commonwealth Court, Ceisler served on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for ten years.
Elections
2017
Commonwealth Court
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2017
Elections were held for two seats on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on November 7, 2017. Christine Fizzano Cannon (R) and Ellen H. Ceisler (D) defeated Irene McLaughlin Clark (D) and Paul Lalley (R) in the general election for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
| General Election for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Christine Fizzano Cannon |
25.81% | 994,163 | |
| Democratic | Ellen H. Ceisler |
25.65% | 988,295 | |
| Democratic | Irene McLaughlin Clark | 24.88% | 958,384 | |
| Republican | Paul Lalley | 23.66% | 911,418 | |
| Total Votes | 3,852,260 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election Unofficial Returns," accessed December 21, 2017 | ||||
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.[1]
| Democratic Primary for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ellen H. Ceisler |
24.28% | 280,209 |
| Irene McLaughlin Clark |
20.56% | 237,287 |
| W. Timothy Barry | 18.71% | 215,904 |
| Todd Eagen | 15.65% | 180,654 |
| Joseph M. Cosgrove Incumbent | 14.72% | 169,869 |
| Bryan Barbin | 6.08% | 70,201 |
| Total Votes (100% reported) | 1,154,124 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official Returns," accessed December 21, 2017 | ||
Bar association rating
Ceisler received a rating of "recommended" from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.[4]
Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania held local judicial elections on November 7, 2017. The filing deadline for judges running for retention was September 8, 2017. For the Courts of Common Pleas, after a judge has won an initial partisan election, subsequent terms are attained through retention elections.[5] [6]
| Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Ellen H. Ceisler Retention, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
| Ellen H. Ceisler | 81.21% | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Unofficial Returns," accessed November 8, 2017 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The 439 judges of the court of common pleas are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections. Candidates may cross-file with both political parties for the partisan primaries, which are followed by general elections where the primary winners from each party compete.[7][8] Judges must run in yes-no retention elections if they wish to continue serving after their first term. A separate part of the ballot is designated for these elections, and judges' names appear without respect to party affiliation.[7][9]
- The president judge of each Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas is chosen by either peer vote or seniority, depending on the size of the court. Statewide, all courts composed of more than seven individuals must select their chief judge by peer vote. Those with seven or fewer members select their chief by seniority.[7][10]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must:[7]
- have state residence for at least one year;
- be a district resident for at least one year (for common pleas judges);
- be a member of the state bar; and
- be under the age of 75.
While retirement at 75 is mandatory, judges may apply for senior judge status. Senior judges may serve as such until the last day of the calendar year in which they turn 78.[10]
See also
External links
|
Officeholder Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election Information," accessed December 21, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Administrative Office of the Courts, "Court of Common Pleas Judges," accessed November 9, 2015
- ↑ Martindale, "Judge Profile: Ellen Ceisler," accessed July 10, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Bar Association, "Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission Releases 2017 Ratings for Potential Judicial Candidates," January 30, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Retention Listing," accessed September 12, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Ban Cross-filing As One Step," January 24, 1985
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "In Re: Nomination Papers of Marakay Rogers, Christina Valente and Carl J. Romanelli," November 7, 2006
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
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