Maria McLaughlin
2018 - Present
2028
6
Maria McLaughlin (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. She assumed office on January 1, 2018. Her current term ends on January 3, 2028.
McLaughlin (Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.
McLaughlin was formerly a judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. She was elected in 2011.
Biography
Maria McLaughlin grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1988 and a J.D. from Delaware Law School at Widener University in 1992. McLaughlin’s career experience includes serving as a judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Previously, she was a judge in the Family Division of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. McLaughlin was also Chief of the Child Support Enforcement Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.[1][2]
Elections
2021
See also: Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2021
General election
General election for Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Kevin Brobson defeated Maria McLaughlin in the general election for Pennsylvania Supreme Court on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kevin Brobson (R) | 50.4 | 1,397,100 | |
| Maria McLaughlin (D) | 49.6 | 1,372,182 | ||
| Total votes: 2,769,282 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Maria McLaughlin advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Supreme Court on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Maria McLaughlin | 100.0 | 945,138 | |
| Total votes: 945,138 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Kevin Brobson defeated Patricia McCullough and Paula A. Patrick in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania Supreme Court on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kevin Brobson | 52.2 | 505,084 | |
| Patricia McCullough | 32.9 | 317,975 | ||
| Paula A. Patrick | 14.9 | 144,291 | ||
| Total votes: 967,350 | ||||
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[3]
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
Pennsylvania Superior Court judge (Assumed office: 2018)
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas judge (2011-2017)
Biography: McLaughlin earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1988 and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1992. Her experience includes serving as a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge, a Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas judge, and working in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Show sources
Sources: AP News, "Pennsylvania court vacancies allow voters to shape judiciary," July 31, 2021, The Meadville Tribune, "State judicial candidates talk qualifications," August 30, 2021; Judge Maria McLaughlin, “Meet Maria,” accessed March 17, 2021, North East Democrats, "Maria McLaughlin," accessed July 18, 2013
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021.
Campaign finance
2017
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2017
Elections were held for four seats on the Pennsylvania Superior Court on November 7, 2017. The following candidates ran in the general election for Pennsylvania Superior Court.
| General Election for Pennsylvania Superior Court, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Maria McLaughlin |
14.09% | 1,078,522 | |
| Democratic | Deborah A. Kunselman |
13.61% | 1,041,965 | |
| Democratic | Carolyn H. Nichols |
12.79% | 978,842 | |
| Republican | Mary P. Murray |
12.00% | 918,705 | |
| Republican | Craig Stedman | 11.95% | 914,284 | |
| Democratic | H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr. Incumbent | 11.66% | 892,646 | |
| Republican | Emil A. Giordano | 11.58% | 885,996 | |
| Republican | Wade Kagarise | 10.92% | 835,647 | |
| Green | Jules Mermelstein | 1.40% | 106,969 | |
| Total Votes | 7,653,576 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election Unofficial Returns," accessed December 21, 2017 | ||||
Maria McLaughlin, Carolyn H. Nichols, Deborah A. Kunselman, and incumbent H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr. defeated William Caye II in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Superior Court.[4]
| Democratic Primary for Pennsylvania Superior Court, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Maria McLaughlin |
23.30% | 460,250 |
| Carolyn H. Nichols |
22.72% | 448,675 |
| Deborah A. Kunselman |
21.92% | 432,937 |
| H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr. Incumbent |
18.31% | 361,547 |
| William Caye II | 13.75% | 271,533 |
| Total Votes (100% reported) | 1,974,942 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "Official Returns," accessed December 21, 2017 | ||
Bar association rating
McLaughlin received a rating of "recommended" from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.[5]
2011
McLaughlin won both parties primaries on May 17. She received 5.6% in the Democratic primary and 11.4% of the vote in the Republican Party.[6] She was elected in a race for eleven seats in the general election on November 8. McLaughlin received 9.7% of the vote.[7]
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011
Bar Association rating
- McLaughlin has been rated "recommended" by the Philadelphia Bar Association.[8]
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Maria McLaughlin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
McLaughlin’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ | "A lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, first in her family to attend college, single mom, lawyer, judge and appellate judge, Maria McLaughlin personifies the meaning of hard work.
Judge McLaughlin grew up in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her law degree from Delaware Law School-Widener University. It is fortuitous that during her final year of law school, Judge McLaughlin clerked for the President Judge of the Superior Court, where she is now a member. Upon graduation from law school and for the next 19 years, Judge McLaughlin worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia and later as Chief of the Child Support Enforcement Unit. She was one of the youngest female Chiefs ever appointed in Philadelphia. Her life was dedicated to protecting the rights of children. As a single mother and judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, of utmost importance to her was continuing to safeguard the rights of children. Judge McLaughlin is known for her commitment and compassion both on and off the bench. In 2017, Judge McLaughlin led the ticket amongst nine candidates statewide for a seat on the Superior Court. She serves as liaison between the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Superior Court. This role has been crucial throughout the pandemic. Giving back to the community was instilled in Judge McLaughlin from an early age. As a young child her parents would take her to spend time at a local orphanage, bearing gifts for the holidays, along with making sandwiches and delivering them to the homeless. These are traditions she continues with her own sons. Throughout her legal career, Judge McLaughlin has dedicated numerous hours off the bench to various organizations, including, anti-violence, anti-drug, re-entry programs and youth organizations. She spent time working with women in prisons, helping them hone their interview skills so they might increase their chances of success outside the prison system. Judge McLaughlin appears often as an instructor and/or guest speaker on a variety of topics for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, local bar associations around Pennsylvania, primary, middle and high schools, and universities and law schools throughout the Commonwealth. There is nothing more important to Judge McLaughlin than family. She and her husband, Jonathan Saidel treasure their blended family, sharing six adult children and four grandchildren."[9] |
” |
| —Maria McLaughlin’s campaign website (2021)[10] | ||
See also
2021 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
Officeholder Pennsylvania Superior Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ Judge Maria McLaughlin, “Meet Maria,” accessed March 17, 2021
- ↑ North East Democrats, "Maria McLaughlin," accessed July 18, 2013
- ↑ In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election Information," accessed December 21, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Bar Association, "Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission Releases 2017 Ratings for Potential Judicial Candidates," January 30, 2017
- ↑ Philadelphia County Bureau of Elections, Unofficial Election Results
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Unofficial Returns
- ↑ The Legal Intelligencer Blog, "Phila. Bar Rates Four More 'Recommended'," April 29, 2011
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Judge Maria McLaughlin, Supreme Court, "Meet Maria," accessed September 29. 2021
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Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania