Michael Clark (Pennsylvania)
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Michael Clark is a judge for the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Clark won the seat in the general election on November 7, 2017.
Clark also ran for judge on the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania in 2011.
Education
Clark earned his undergraduate degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1990. He earned his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School with honors in 1998.[1]
Professional career
After completing his undergraduate degree Clark worked as a county detective with the district attorney's office from 1991 to 1995. After his admission to the bar Clark became a founding partner at Holsinger, Clark & Armstrong. He served as an assistant district attorney from 1998 until 2000. In 2004 he became the county solicitor for the Indiana County Sheriff's Office.[1]
Awards and associations
Associations
- Board Member, Indiana County's United Way chapter
- Board Member, Seeds of Faith Christian Academy
- Member, Indiana Healthcare Corporation
- Past Board Member, YMCA of Indiana County[1]
Elections
2017
Pennsylvania held local judicial elections on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on May 16, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 7, 2017. Candidates and recently appointed judges of the Courts of Common Pleas must initially run in partisan elections. Subsequent terms are won through retention elections. Elections for the Magisterial District Courts are always partisan. Pennsylvania allows cross-filing for candidates running in partisan elections. Most candidates run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.[2]
Michael Clark (R) defeated Patrick Dougherty (D) in the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas general election.[3]
| Indiana County Court of Common Pleas, General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Michael Clark |
57.98% | 9,228 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Dougherty | 42.02% | 6,688 | |
| Total Votes | 15,916 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election," November 7, 2017 | ||||
Patrick Dougherty defeated Michael Clark, Thomas Kauffman, and Anthony Sottile III in the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas Democratic primary.[4]
| Indiana County Court of Common Pleas, Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Patrick Dougherty |
51.69% | 2,780 |
| Michael Clark | 20.90% | 1,124 |
| Thomas Kauffman | 14.65% | 788 |
| Anthony Sottile III | 12.76% | 686 |
| Total Votes | 5,378 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Primary Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed May 16, 2017 | ||
Michael Clark defeated Patrick Dougherty, Thomas Kauffman, and Anthony Sottile III in the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas Republican primary.[5]
| Indiana County Court of Common Pleas, Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Michael Clark |
40.64% | 3,049 |
| Patrick Dougherty | 26.82% | 2,012 |
| Thomas Kauffman | 16.97% | 1,273 |
| Anthony Sottile III | 15.57% | 1,168 |
| Total Votes | 7,502 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Primary Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed May 16, 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.[6][7] 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.[6][8]
- 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.[6][9]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must:[6]
- 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.[9]
2011
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011
Clark won the Republican Party primary on May 17. He received 34% in the Democratic primary and 63.8% of the vote in the Republican primary.[10] He was defeated by Thomas M. Bianco in the general election on November 8, receiving 48.5% of the vote.[11]
See also
External links
- Indiana Gazette "Clark runs for judge," December 30, 2010
- Blairsville Dispatch "DA, judge hopefuls in Indiana County field questions," October 28, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Indiana Gazette "Clark runs for judge," December 30, 2010
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Indiana County, Pennsylvania, "Election Summary Report," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Candidate Database," accessed March 20, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Candidate Database," accessed March 20, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 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
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Bureau of Election, Unofficial Election Results
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Unofficial Returns
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
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