Facts about candidates for state appellate courts

SUPREME COURT (1 open seat)

DEMOCRAT

NAME - Jack Panella

AGE - 54

HOME - Easton

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, St. John's University, 1977; law degree, The Catholic University of America, 1980. State Judicial Conduct Board, 2005-09. Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, 1997-2001.

EXPERIENCE - State Superior Court judge, 2004-present. Northampton County Common Pleas judge, 1991-2003. Northampton County solicitor, 1987-91 Private law practice, 1982-91.

PERSONAL - Married, with three children.

WEB SITE - http://votejackpanella.com/

REPUBLICAN

NAME - Joan Orie Melvin

AGE - 53

HOME - Wexford

EDUCATION - B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1978. J.D., law degree, Duquesne University Law School, 1981.

EXPERIENCE - State Superior Court judge, 1998-present; Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, 1990-97; Pittsburgh city magistrate, 1985-90; private law practice, 1981-85.

PERSONAL - Married, with six children.

WEB SITE - http://www.judgeoriemelvin.com

SUPERIOR COURT (4 seats)

DEMOCRATS

NAME - Robert Colville

AGE - 44

HOME - Pittsburgh

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, Penn State University, 1989; law degree, Duquesne University Law School, 1992.

EXPERIENCE - Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, 2000-present. Private law practice, 1994-99.

PERSONAL - Married, with two children.

WEB SITE - http://judgecolville.com/

NAME - Anne Lazarus

AGE - 56

HOME - Philadelphia

EDUCATION - B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1972, graduated from Temple University Law School with a J.D. in 1976 and an L.L.M. in 1986.

EXPERIENCE - Philadelphia Common Pleas judge, 1991-present. Private law practice, 1976-91.

PERSONAL - Married, with two children.

WEB SITE - http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org/

NAME - Kevin McCarthy

AGE - 48

HOME - Dormont

EDUCATION - B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1983; law degree, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1986.

EXPERIENCE - Assistant district attorney in appellate unit of Allegheny County district attorney's office, 1990-present.

PERSONAL - Married.

WEB SITE - http://www.mccarthyforsuperiorcourt.com/

NAME - Teresa Sarmina

AGE - 57

HOME - Philadelphia

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, St. Mary's College, South Bend, Ind., 1974; master's degree, University of Chicago, 1976; law degree, Georgetown University Law Center, 1982.

EXPERIENCE - Philadelphia Common Pleas judge, 1998-present. Senior deputy attorney General, 1993-97; attorney with state drug strike force, Attorney General's Office, 1989-93; assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, 1984-89.

PERSONAL - Married.

WEB SITE - http://sarminaforsuperiorcourt.com/

REPUBLICANS

NAME - Sallie Mundy

AGE - 47

HOME - Tioga

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, Washington and Jefferson College, 1984; law degree, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1987.

EXPERIENCE - Lawyer with Philadelphia law firm of McEldrew and Fullam, 1988-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with five children.

WEB SITE - http://www.salliemundy.com/

NAME - Judy Olson

AGE - 52

HOME - Franklin Park

EDUCATION - B.A., St. Francis University, 1979; Law degree, Duquesne University Law School, 1982.

EXPERIENCE - Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, 2008-present. Private law practice, 1984-2008

PERSONAL - Married, with two children.

WEB SITE - http://electjudgejudy.com/

NAME - Paula Ott

AGE - 59

HOME - West Chester

EDUCATION - B.A., University of Delaware, 1972; law degree, 1975, master's of law, 1981, Temple University Law School.

EXPERIENCE - Chester County Common Pleas judge, 1992-present, serving as president judge since 2005. Assistant district attorney in Chester County, 1975-78, and an assistant county solicitor, 1978-81. Private law practice, 1981-92.

PERSONAL - Married,

WEB SITE - http://paulaott.com/

NAME - Temp Smith

AGE - 57

HOME - Mount Lebanon

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, Washington & Lee University, 1974; law degree, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1977.

EXPERIENCE - Private law practice, 1977-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with two children.

WEB SITE - http://tempsmith.mypoliticalsite.com/

LIBERTARIAN

NAME - Marakay Rogers

AGE - 47

HOME - York

EDUCATION - Bachelor's degree, Wilson College, 1981; law degree, Dickinson Law School, 1984.

EXPERIENCE - Executive director, York Human Relations Commission, 1985-89; director of paralegal studies, Academy of Medical Arts and Business, Harrisburg, 1989-2000; private law practice 2000-present.

WEB SITE - None.

COMMONWEALTH COURT (2 seats)

DEMOCRATS

NAME - Barbara Behrend Ernsberger

AGE - 58

HOME - Pittsburgh

EDUCATION - B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1973; law degree, Duquesne University Law School, 1976.

EXPERIENCE - Private law practice 1976-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with three children.

WEB SITE - http://www.ernsbergerforjudge.com/

NAME - Linda Judson

AGE - 51

HOME - Pittsburgh

EDUCATION - Worked as a licensed practical nurse from 1979-86. Bachelor's degree, University of Pittsburgh, 1986; law degree, Duquesne University Law School, 1990.

EXPERIENCE - Private law practice, 1990-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with one child.

WEB SITE - http://www.lindajudsonforjudge.com/

REPUBLICANS

NAME - Kevin Brobson

AGE - 38

HOME - Harrisburg

EDUCATION - B.A., Lycoming College, 1992; law degree, Widener University Law School, 1995.

EXPERIENCE - Private law practice, 1996-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with three children.

WEB SITE - http://www.brobson4judge.com/

NAME - Patricia McCullough

AGE - 52

HOME - Pittsburgh

EDUCATION - B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1978; law degree, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1981.

EXPERIENCE - Executive director, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, 2006-07; Allegheny County Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review, 2000-05; lawyer in the University of Pittsburgh's Office of General Counsel, 1983-91; private law practice off and on, 1993-present.

PERSONAL - Married, with two children.

WEB SITE - http://patriciamccullough.com/