Candidates

Brandon P. Neuman is a nominee in the special general election for Pennsylvania’s Superior Court on November 4, 2025. He advanced from the Democratic primary on May 20, 2025 in a race with no incumbents, aiming to fill an open seat on one of the commonwealth’s two intermediate appellate courts.

Neuman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Richmond, a Master of Studies in Law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law.

He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for District 48 from 2011 until his resignation on January 2, 2018. Before and after his legislative tenure, Neuman practiced law as a trial attorney with Robert Pierce and Associates, handling both criminal and civil matters.

He is endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police for his commitment to law enforcement and community safety

“It is a great honor to be a candidate for the PA Superior Court. I have a diverse and unique background that makes me the most qualified and trusted candidate. Electing me to the Superior Court will assure Pennsylvanians that their voice will be heard by a fair and  impartial judge. I look forward to earning the trust of the voters.“

https://www.judgeneuman.com/

She was a Penn State undergraduate and recieved her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. For the City of Philadelphia she chaired administrative law and oversaw child welfare and social services attorneys from 2000–2003. Appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 2016 and then elected to a 10-year term in 2017; has presided in Criminal, Civil, Family, and Orphans’ Court divisions, handling matters including medical malpractice, election candidacy challenges, guardianship, and trust and estate disputes.

Campaign statements and interviews emphasize experience with government-agency–related matters relevant to Commonwealth Court cases.

He is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School teaching topics consistent with her practice in regulatory and ethics matters. She serves on advisory or ethics-related bodies. 

"I’ve dedicated my career to upholding justice and ensuring fairness within Philadelphia’s legal system. Currently serving as a Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas since August 2016, I am honored to run for election to the Commonwealth Court in 2025. My extensive experience across the Criminal, Civil, Orphans’ Court, and Family Court Divisions has equipped me with the skills and insights necessary to address the complex social, economic, and governmental issues facing our Commonwealth.

"My approach to judging is guided by integrity, transparency, consistency, keeping an open mind, and ensuring that everyone in our courthouse is treated with dignity and respect. I believe our legal system should be accessible and just for all Pennsylvanians, and I strive to operate with independence and transparency. As a candidate for the Commonwealth Court, I bring a wealth of judicial, legal and life experience, a steadfast commitment to fairness, and a fresh perspective to the bench.

"As a judge on the Commonwealth Court, I will work tirelessly to deliver justice without fear or favor. My goal is to ensure that our legal system serves the needs of our diverse community with unwavering dedication, upholding the highest standards of judicial excellence and integrity."

https://stellaforjudge.com/

Donohue is a native of Schuylkill County and joined the Supreme Court after a decade on the appellate bench; she was elected in 2015 as part of a Democratic sweep that produced the court’s current majority 

Donohue authored and joined opinions on high-profile issues including decisions recognizing constitutional protections related to reproductive health and litigation touching redistricting, election procedure, and limits on executive emergency powers 

The Pennsylvania Bar Association and several legal and civic groups have recommended she be retained; conservative political groups and allied PACs have invested in campaign messaging urging no votes and have distributed contested mailers criticizing the court’s prior redistricting and election rulings 

Her term of office commenced in January 2016. Prior to her service as a Supreme Court Justice, Justice Donohue served on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania for eight years.

Justice Donohue is a former judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, a former chair and member of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners and the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board, and a former member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

She received the 2023 Woman of the Year Award from the Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Women’s Law Association. Justice Donohue received the Amen Corner’s 2023 Judge Robert E. Dauer Award For Judicial Leadership & Excellence.

Justice Donohue spearheaded an effort by trial judges and lawyers to afford young lawyers opportunities to gain courtroom experience, especially presenting cases to civil juries.  Bar groups developed a program known as Project LITIGATE encouraging law firms to take a pledge to give young lawyers opportunities to develop litigation skills in the courtroom while the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges endorsed Project LITIGATE and adopted a set of best practices for involving less experienced lawyers in civil jury cases and established a Project LITIGATE taskforce.

Justice Donohue taught ethics for attorneys at the Duquesne University School of Law. Pittsburgh.

https://donohue2025.com/

Kevin M. Dougherty (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 5, 2016. His current term ends on January 4, 2026.

Dougherty first became a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court through a partisan election. He was first elected to the court in 2015. Prior to being elected Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice, Dougherty was an administrative judge for the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County. He was elected to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in 2001 and retained in 2011.

With a passion for issues facing children and families, Justice Dougherty alongside his fellow Justices has taken a keen interest in making the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania a model for the country when it comes to issues such as access to justice, alternative sentencing, transparency within the court system, and most importantly keeping an open dialogue between the various stakeholders within the judicial branch of government. In addition, he proudly represents the Supreme Court on both the Statewide Dependency Court Improvement Program, the Autism and the Courts Initiative, and the new Supreme Court Behavioral Health Initiative.

https://retaindougherty.com/

Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Wecht served as a Judge of The Superior Court of Pennsylvania from January 2012 to January 2016, and as a Judge on The Court of Common Pleas for Pennsylvania’s Fifth Judicial District from February 2003 to January 2012.

From January 2009 to January 2011, Justice Wecht served by appointment of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as Administrative Judge of the Fifth Judicial District’s Family Division, which encompasses both domestic relations cases and cases of juvenile dependency and delinquency. As Administrative Judge, Justice Wecht designed and implemented several reforms and innovations, including the Unified Family Court, the local rule on parenting coordination, and improved conflict counsel appointments in juvenile cases.

Justice Wecht is a 1984 Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale, where he was a National Merit Scholar and earned Yale College Distinction in both history and political science. 

After graduating from Yale Law School in 1987, Justice Wecht served as Law Clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge George MacKinnon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Washington, D.C., and received the Award for Distinguished Service in that position. 

Wecht joined decisions affecting legislative and congressional redistricting and rulings tied to the administration of elections, placing him at the center of disputes that drew intense public attention.

He was part of panels addressing the scope of executive emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic and related procedural questions about election administration.

His record shows involvement in cases across the court’s docket, from criminal appeals to constitutional questions that can influence policy on matters like reproductive health and government regulation.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association and other legal groups have generally recommended retention for sitting justices based on competence and fairness.

A frequent lecturer to bench, bar, and community groups throughout Pennsylvania and in several other states, Justice Wecht also has served for many years on the faculties of the Duquesne University School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh. He has taught at universities in China and Israel. 

https://davidwecht.com/

Judge Alice Beck Dubow has served Pennsylvanians with distinction on the Superior Court since being elected in 2015. Her impressive judicial career, built on a foundation of extensive legal expertise and unwavering commitment to justice, makes her exceptionally qualified to continue serving the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Dubow earned both her undergraduate degree and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania 

Before joining the Superior Court, she served eight years on the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County. Her prior legal career included roles as Deputy General Counsel at Drexel University, Divisional Deputy City Solicitor, and attorney at prominent firms Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, and Fineman and Bach. These diverse roles have given her a broad understanding of how legal rulings affect communities, institutions, and individuals across Pennsylvania.

Her written and panel opinions include high‑profile criminal matters such as resentencing in cases involving multiple homicides and long sentences in child‑abuse or sexual‑assault contexts; she has taken part in rulings that shaped how sentencing and appellate review are applied in serious criminal cases.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association recommended Dubow for judicial office when she first ran and has been part of the broader set of legal‑community evaluations used to inform retention considerations 

Committed to community service, she currently sits on, or has previously served on, the boards of the Stoneleigh Foundation, Carson Valley Children’s Aid, and the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 

https://judgealicedubow.com/retain-judge-alice-beck-dubow-for-superior-court/