Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer dies


Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer (D) died on Sept. 30, 2022. 

Baer was elected to the state supreme court in 2003. He was retained with 71% of the vote on Nov. 5, 2013. Prior to joining the court, he was an administrative judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. He also worked as an attorney in private practice and as a deputy attorney general with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

In Pennsylvania, state supreme court vacancies are filled by appointment. Appointed judges are allowed to run in the next general election more than 10 months after the vacancy.

Pennsylvania is one of eight states to elect its supreme court justices via partisan elections. The other states are Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

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