McCaffery is ready
for a Supreme seat

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Seamus McCaffery has gone from a Marine Corps private to a colonel in the Air Force Reserves.
"I’m a firm believer in working my way up from the bottom," he said.
McCaffery, a 57-year-old Democrat from Bustleton, is taking the same route in the field of law. He’s been an attorney in private practice, a trial and administrative judge on Philadelphia Municipal Court and a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge.
Now, he’s one of four candidates seeking two spots on the seven-member state Supreme Court.
"I’ve learned this job at every level," he said.
The field includes two of McCaffery’s fellow Superior Court judges, Democrat Debra Todd and Republican Maureen Lally-Green. Both live in the same town in Butler County.
The other candidate is Mike Krancer, a Republican from Bryn Mawr who was former chairman and chief judge of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board. The great-nephew of the late newspaper publisher Walter Annenberg, he is making his first run for office.
On the 15-member Superior Court, there are just two Philadelphians, McCaffery and Richard Klein, along with Susan Gantman, of Montgomery County. None of the remaining 12 is from the area, and 10 of them hail from western Pennsylvania.
Not including interim Justice James Fitzgerald, the only Supreme Court justice from the eastern part of the state is Ron Castille, a former Philadelphia district attorney and mayoral candidate who recently moved to Rhawnhurst. Castille will replace Ralph Cappy as chief justice next year.
"We need a balance on the Supreme Court. Our region needs to have some representation," McCaffery said.
There are two openings on the court because of the resignation of Sandra Schultz Newman and the 2005 retention defeat of Russell Nigro. The winners will serve 10-year terms.
In addition to the two vacancies, Supreme Court Justice Thomas Saylor is seeking a new term in a retention vote.
The Democratic candidates should have an edge for the two open seats because their party has about 600,000 more voters than Republicans in Pennsylvania.
Also, Democratic judicial candidates do better in years when there is a Philadelphia mayoral race. However, turnout is expected to be relatively light in the city, where Democrat Michael Nutter is expected to trounce Republican Al Taubenberger in the mayor’s race.
McCaffery, married with three adult sons and two granddaughters, has been rated "recommended" by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission.
A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, he graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School (Class of 1968) and joined the Philadelphia Police Department.
During his 20-year career as a policeman, he raised a family and attended night school to earn bachelor’s and law degrees. He served in private practice until being elected to Municipal Court in 1993.
On Municipal Court, he served as administrative judge but was best known as being the judge who oversaw nuisance night court and a court at Veterans Stadium during Eagles games. He also presided over a domestic violence court and developed the idea for a gun court.
In 1997, he lost a bid for Commonwealth Court, but in 2003, he was elected to Superior Court.
After the state legislature approved giant raises for itself and the judiciary in 2005, McCaffery donated his money to children’s charities.
For this race, his campaign operates out of an office on Byberry Road. He has been traveling around the state most of the year and has produced two television commercials that have been running heavily in the Pittsburgh and Harrisburg media markets.
McCaffery has the support of organizations representing labor unions, law enforcement, ethnic groups, sportsmen, veterans and motorcyclists.
If elected, he would like to create a statewide mental health court, noting that 30 percent of inmates have mental health issues. He thinks he’d bring a unique perspective to the court because of his background.
"My dream is to go from beat cop to Supreme Court," he said.
If he loses, he will still enjoy being a member of Superior Court. He was also flattered that mayoral hopeful Taubenberger mentioned in a debate that he’d like to name McCaffery as the city’s next police commissioner. The judge would be honored to serve as commissioner but will only consider the post if he loses and Taubenberger wins.
McCaffery has a busy final week on the campaign trail, then will watch the votes trickle in from Colleen’s, a restaurant at 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that has been the site for his other victory parties.
In all parts of the state, he is trying to distinguish himself from the other three candidates.
"Look at all four resumés," he tells voters. "If you like what you see on mine, vote for me." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com