So, pretend for a moment that you would like to be a judge. You went to law school and you are tired of going before judges — you want to be one yourself.
Welp! Join the club. There are a lot of attorneys (a lot of them!) who have the same idea, and they are all vying for the same thing you are — the nomination of the Democratic party in Philadelphia.
So, how do you “get the nod” so to speak?
Well, it helps if you do a lot of pro-bono legal work for committee people, ward leaders, and party officials. That means that if someone needs assistance with a case, you take it on for cheap or free. You may do this a number of times for the party. While there is no guarantee that this will get you to the finish line, it’s a great way to start.
Second, raise a lot of cash. You then contribute that money directly to the Democratic party. If you get endorsed, you are strongly encouraged to donate about $50,000 directly to the party coffers (at least, that is what the going rate seemed to be in 2023.) However, there are other groups of ward leaders who want to be paid as well. All told, you are looking at anywhere between $100,000 to $150,000. And everyone wants to know if advance if you can raise that kind of cash. If you get endorsed, and you cannot raise it, it is embarrassing to everyone involved.
Third, get a good ballot lottery number. Every candidate pulls a lot from the Horn and Hardart can that indicates where they will appear on the ballot. If there are 20 people running, and you pull 18, well, better luck next year (not always, but often.) If you pull number 2, you have a great shot at winning. Also, if you are not endorsed by the party, and you pull a great lottery number, you may end up with a new job, or promises of future support if you drop out.
Three things — the endorsement of the party, money, and a good lottery number. Nothing else really matters. Nothing.
In our next post, we will discuss the role of committee people and ward leaders in the election of judges in Philadelphia.