Christine Donohue
Christine Donohue (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She assumed office on January 8, 2016.
Donohue (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She won in the retention election on November 4, 2025.
Donohue first became a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court through a partisan election. She was first elected to the court in 2015. To read more about judicial elections in Pennsylvania, click here.
In 2020, Ballotpedia published Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship, a study examining the partisan affiliation of all state supreme court justices in the country. As part of this study, we assigned each justice a Confidence Score describing our confidence in the degree of partisanship exhibited by the justices' past partisan behavior, before they joined the court.[1] Donohue received a confidence score of Strong Democrat.[2] Click here to read more about this study.
Biography
Christine Donohue received a B.A. in political science from East Stroudsburg University in 1974 and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1980.[3] Prior to her service on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, she was a judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court from 2008 to 2015. From 1989 to 2007, she was a shareholder with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. and worked as a private practice attorney from 1980 to 1989.[3]
Elections
2025
See also: Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2025
Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Seat 2 - Christine Donohue
Christine Donohue was retained to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on November 4, 2025 with 64.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
64.8
|
932,483 | ||
No |
35.2
|
505,509 | |||
Total Votes |
1,437,992 | ||||
|
|
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Donohue in this election.
2015
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2015
Pennsylvania's judicial elections included a primary on May 19, 2015, and a general election on November 3, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates was March 11, 2015.
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Three seats, General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kevin M. Dougherty |
18.5% | 1,079,835 | |
| Democratic | David N. Wecht |
18.4% | 1,070,568 | |
| Democratic | Christine Donohue |
18.2% | 1,059,167 | |
| Republican | Judith Olson | 15.2% | 887,409 | |
| Republican | Michael A. George | 13.6% | 796,124 | |
| Republican | Anne Covey | 13.6% | 795,330 | |
| Independent Judicial Alliance | Paul P. Panepinto | 2.5% | 144,403 | |
| Write-in votes | 0% | 0 | ||
| Total Votes | 5,832,836 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial General Election Results," November 3, 2015 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Three seats, Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| David N. Wecht |
22.1% | 256,761 |
| Kevin M. Dougherty |
22.0% | 256,048 |
| Christine Donohue |
21.4% | 248,325 |
| Anne Lazarus | 16.3% | 189,127 |
| Dwayne D. Woodruff | 11.7% | 136,127 |
| John H. Foradora | 6.6% | 76,190 |
| Write-in votes | 0% | 0 |
| Total Votes | 1,162,578 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2015 Municipal Primary Unofficial Results," May 19, 2015 | ||
Recommendation
Donohue was highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association due in part to her "proven record of judicial leadership and ethics and dedication to the legal profession."[4]
Endorsements
- Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
- Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council
- Teamsters Joint Council 40
- Allegheny- Fayette Central Labor Council
- Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council
- Westmoreland County Central Labor Council
- Western Pennsylvania Carpenters Regional District Council
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 5 (IBEW Local 5)
- Steamfitters Local Union 449
- Pittsburgh Plumbers Local 27
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades I.U.P.A.T. District Council 57
- International Union of Operation Engineers I.U.O.E. Local 66
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23
- United Mine Workers District 2
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 29 (IBEW Local 29)
- Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers
- Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
- SEIU Pennsylvania State Council
- Pennsylvania Pipe Trades
- Unite Here Local 57
- Luzerne County Democratic Party
- Schuylkill County Democratic Party
- Gertrude Stein Club of Greater Pittsburgh
- Steel City Stonewall Democrats
- Pittsburgh's 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club[5]
- Race background (click to expand)
Three open seats were up for election on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015. Going into the primary, there were 12 candidates running for the court. One open seat was the result of the retirement of Chief Justice Ronald Castille in December 2014. The other two seats were made vacant by resignations. In May 2013, Justice Joan Orie Melvin resigned after her conviction for campaign corruption. The second resignation occurred in October 2014, when Justice Seamus P. McCaffery left the court due to both his implication in an FBI investigation involving the exchange of referral fees between his wife and several law firms, and his involvement in a scandal wherein sexually explicit emails were forwarded from his personal email account to court employees.
Justice Correale Stevens was appointed to the bench by Governor Tom Corbett (R) in June 2013 to replace Joan Orie Melvin. He ran unsuccessfully in 2015 to keep his seat on the court.[6]
Campaign finances in the primary
May reporting period
The candidates for the May 19 primary had $2,127,498.74 in cash on hand as of the last pre-primary reporting period. Michael A. George (R) had the most cash on hand at $497,325.16, while Rebecca L. Warren (R) had the lowest total at $2,574.97. The biggest contribution during this reporting period was $50,000 from Ronald Caplan, president of PMC Property Group, to Democratic candidate Kevin M. Dougherty.Pre-primary campaign finance, May 2015[7] Candidate Party Cash on hand ($) Highest contribution ($) Contributor(s) Michael A. George 
Republican497,325.16 5,000 Friends of Rich Alloway David N. Wecht 
Democratic450,877.64 20,000 Fairness PA Kevin M. Dougherty Democratic422,421.91 50,000 Ronald Caplan, President, PMC Property Group Anne Lazarus Democratic224,663.64 5,000 Fairness PA, Alan Ominsky Anne Covey Republican149,229.72 25,000 Anthony & Catherine Misitano John H. Foradora Democratic137,130.66 10,000 Monica Mitchell Judith Olson Republican111,688.92 25,000 PA Future Fund Christine Donohue Democratic53,299.01 10,000 Carpenters PAC of Philadelphia & Vicinity Dwayne D. Woodruff Democratic42,129.39 5,000 Franco Harris, Former player, Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club Correale Stevens Republican18,777.49 20,000 Alan H. Potamkin Cheryl Lynn Allen Republican17,380.23 10,000 Fairness PA Rebecca L. Warren Republican2,574.97 500 John Kasha April reporting period
Three candidates reported campaign receipts exceeding $500,000 in finance reports filed on April 7. Kevin M. Dougherty (D) took the cash-on-hand lead with $584,666.22 in the bank, followed by David N. Wecht (D) at $546,220.24 and Michael A. George (R) at $508,459.63. Eight of the nine remaining primary candidates totaled approximately $898,000 on hand by early April, with Rebecca L. Warren (R) having a negative cash balance. The fundraising advantage through March rested with Democratic candidates, who totaled $1.94 million on hand compared to $595,000 for Republican candidates.[8]Pre-primary campaign finance, April 2015[9] Candidate Party Cash on hand ($) Highest contribution ($) Contributor(s) Kevin M. Dougherty Democratic584,666.22 100,000 Local Union #98 I.B.E.W. Committee On Political Education David N. Wecht Democratic546,220.24 25,000 Daniel Berger, Attorney Michael A. George Republican508,459.63 500,000 Gary Lowenthal, Founder, Boyds Bears John H. Foradora Democratic391,074.05 100,000 John H. Foradora Anne Lazarus Democratic262,093.08 75,000 Anne Lazarus Christine Donohue Democratic184,727.00 5,000 Commonwealth Heritage PAC, I.B.E.W. Local 5, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel and 13 individual donors Anne Covey Republican56,540.38 25,000 PA Future Fund Correale Stevens Republican44,101.58 5,000 Pennsylvania Society of Physicians Assistants, Gillespie, Miscavige, Ferdinand & Baranko LLC and four individual donors Dwayne D. Woodruff Democratic29,514.80 5,000 Arthur J. Rooney II, President, Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club Cheryl Lynn Allen Republican17,135.00 10,000 Eldora Ellison, Retired Judith Olson Republican842.06 1,000 Carl G. Grefenstette, Director, Hillman Foundation Rebecca L. Warren Republican-2,668.35 5,000 Rebecca L. Warren April 8 candidate forum
A candidate forum at the Free Library of Philadelphia on April 8 showcased candidate concerns over the influence of money in judicial elections. Five candidates participated in the forum: Anne Lazarus (D), John H. Foradora (D), David N. Wecht (D), Dwayne D. Woodruff (D) and Cheryl Lynn Allen (R). All of the candidates at the forum argued that more campaign cash presented issues for judicial races, though none believed that eliminating elections would be the right solution. Foradora argued that campaign cash potentially damages the court's integrity, while Woodruff suggested that higher finance requirements presented a barrier to entry for qualified candidates. Allen advocated for nonpartisan elections as a counterweight to increasing partisanship on the court.[10]
Failed nominations
In February 2015, Governor Tom Wolf (D) nominated both Ken Gormley, a law professor for the Duquesne University School of Law, and Judge Thomas Kistler of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. However, after a Christmas email sent by Kistler and a halt to confirm Gormley, Wolf said he planned no further nominations to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.[11]
Kistler asked that his nomination be withdrawn after a report surfaced of a racially insensitive e-greeting sent out by Kistler to friends in 2013. The e-greeting depicted a black couple, with the male wearing prison garb behind a glass window and his female visitor speaking to him via a jailhouse phone. The caption attached to the e-greeting said, "Merry Christmas from the Johnsons," and Kistler sent the greeting with a subject heading of "Best Christmas card ever."[12]
Gormley's nomination came under scrutiny when reports of harassment complaints filed in 2006 against Gormley were circulated among the Senate Judiciary Committee. An internal Duquesne University report, which had been cited in a lawsuit filed against Gormley, recommended that Gormley not supervise women because he had shared "an unsubstantiated rumor" regarding a female professor. The suit was later settled by the female professor and the university.[12]
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Christine Donohue did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2015
Donohue's campaign website listed the following themes for the 2015 election:
| “ |
Throughout her career, Judge Donohue has had the opportunity to litigate or preside over landmark cases protecting the rights of injured persons, holding corporations accountable for fraudulent behavior, eliminating bias against LGBT parents in custody matters and more. She has been an adjunct professor at Duquesne University and lectured before legal, professional and student audiences. She has served on or led every ethics enforcement body and tribunal established in Pennsylvania to ensure attorneys and judges comply with the highest standards of conduct. Judge Donohue, who represented individuals, corporations and business people throughout her career as an attorney, earned the title of Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. [13] |
” |
| —Donohue for Justice (2015)[14] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
Analysis
Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship (2020)
Last updated: June 15, 2020
In 2020, Ballotpedia published Ballotpedia Courts: State Partisanship, a study examining the partisan affiliation of all state supreme court justices in the country as of June 15, 2020.
The study presented Confidence Scores that represented our confidence in each justice's degree of partisan affiliation. This was not a measure of where a justice fell on an ideological spectrum, but rather a measure of how much confidence we had that a justice was or had been affiliated with a political party. The scores were based on seven factors, including but not limited to party registration.[15]
The five resulting categories of Confidence Scores were:
- Strong Democrat
- Mild Democrat
- Indeterminate[16]
- Mild Republican
- Strong Republican
This justice's Confidence Score, as well as the factors contributing to that score, is presented below. The information below was current as of June 2020.
Christine
Donohue
Pennsylvania
- Partisan Confidence Score:
Strong Democrat - Judicial Selection Method:
Elected - Key Factors:
- Was a registered Democrat as of 2020
- Donated over $2,000 to Democratic candidates
- Received donations from Democrat-affiliated individuals or organizations
Partisan Profile
Details:
Donohue ran as a registered Democrat for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She donated $9,325 to Democratic candidates. She received $161,232 from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. She was endorsed by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, the Teamsters Joint Council 40, the Allegheny- Fayette Central Labor Council, and the Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council, all of which endorse Democrats more frequently than Republicans.
Noteworthy cases
Wolf v. Scarnati (2020)
Wolf v. Scarnati: On July 1, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against legislative Republicans in favor of Gov. Tom Wolf (D), upholding his ability to maintain COVID-19 shutdown orders. The lawsuit stemmed from Wolf’s March 6, 2020, emergency disaster proclamation, which he renewed on June 3, 2020. On June 9, 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly adopted a concurrent resolution, HR836, seeking to terminate the disaster emergency, which was not presented to the governor for approval or veto. The governor did not comply. Three Republican state senators filed a complaint in the Commonwealth Court, asking the court to command Wolf to comply with their resolution by "issuing an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency." Wolf asked the state supreme court to exercise extraordinary jurisdiction, thus removing the case to the high court. The state supreme court held that HR836 was a legal nullity because the Pennsylvania Constitution required that concurrent resolutions relating to emergency declarations be presented to the governor for approval or veto. As the General Assembly did not do so, the court refused to order Wolf to end the shutdown, stating, "The Pennsylvania Constitution does not empower the legislature to act unilaterally to suspend a law, and the Governor’s purported suspension of law did not violate the non-delegation doctrine." Justice David N. Wecht wrote the court's opinion, which Justices Max Baer, Debra Todd, and Christine Donohue joined. Justice Kevin M. Dougherty filed a separate opinion, concurring and dissenting in part.[17]
No retroactive increase in sex offender registration periods
In Commonwealth v. Muniz, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) could not apply retroactively to a defendant who was found guilty of a sex crime before the legislation took effect.[18] The court ruled that SORNA’s registration requirements constituted a criminal punishment and that the ex post facto clauses of the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions prevented the state from punishing defendants beyond what the law allowed at the time of his or her crime. Justice Donohue joined the majority opinion.
State supreme court judicial selection in Pennsylvania
- See also: Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
The seven justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are selected in partisan elections.[19]
Justices serve 10-year terms, after which they must run in yes-no retention elections if they wish to remain on the court. A separate part of the ballot is designated for these elections, and justices' names appear without respect to party affiliation.[19][20] To learn more about these elections, visit the Pennsylvania judicial elections page.
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a justice must:
- have state residence for at least one year;
- be a member of the state bar; and
- be under the age of 75.[19][21]
Chief justice
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court chooses its chief justice by seniority; the title is held by the longest-serving justice on the court.[19][22]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a successor who must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Pennsylvania Senate. Interim justices stand for election at the next municipal election occurring more than 10 months after the vacancy occurred.[19]
By tradition, appointed interim judges of the supreme court, superior court, or court of appeals do not go on to run for permanent seats. In other words, the governor appoints these judges with the expectation that the judge will only fill the interim vacancy.[19]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
Officeholder Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ We calculated confidence scores by collecting several data points such as party registration, donations, and previous political campaigns.
- ↑ The five possible confidence scores were: Strong Democrat, Mild Democrat, Indeterminate, Mild Republican, and Strong Republican.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ Pennsylvania Bar Association, "Judicial Evaluation Commission Releases 2015 Judicial Ratings," accessed July 7, 2021
- ↑ Judge Christine Donohue for Supreme Court Justice, "Endorsements and Recommendations," accessed July 7, 2021
- ↑ TribLive.com, "Much at stake as 16 vie for historic 3 vacancies on Pa. Supreme Court," January 11, 2015
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Campaign Finance Online Reporting," accessed May 18, 2015
- ↑ TribLive, "3 candidates for Pennsylvania Supreme Court have more than $500k on hand for primary election," April 7, 2015
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Campaign Finance Online Reporting," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Philly.com, "5 running for Pa.'s top court agree: Judicial races cost too much," April 8, 2015
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Senate GOP may not fill 2 vacancies on Pennsylvania’s high court," February 24, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Philly.com, "Two Supreme Court nominees under fire," February 22, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Donohue for Justice, "Bio," accessed April 26, 2015
- ↑ The seven factors were party registration, donations made to partisan candidates, donations made to political parties, donations received from political parties or bodies with clear political affiliation, participation in political campaigns, the partisanship of the body responsible for appointing the justice, and state trifecta status when the justice joined the court.
- ↑ An Indeterminate score indicates that there is either not enough information about the justice’s partisan affiliations or that our research found conflicting partisan affiliations.
- ↑ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, "Wolf v. Scarnati: Opinion," July 1, 2020
- ↑ Pennsylvania Supreme Court, "Commonwealth v. Muniz," July 19, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "In Re: Nomination Papers of Marakay Rogers, Christina Valente and Carl J. Romanelli," November 7, 2006
- ↑ 2018 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, "Title 42, Chapter 33, Section 3351," accessed August 25, 2020
- ↑ The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
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