Amber Kraft
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Amber Kraft is a judge for the York County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Kraft won the seat in the general election on November 7, 2017.
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.[1]
Incumbent Kathleen Prendergast (Democratic/Republican), Clyde Vedder (Democratic/Republican), and Amber Kraft (R) defeated Sandra Thompson (D) in the general election for three seats on the York County Court of Common Pleas.[2]
| York County Court of Common Pleas, General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic/Republican |  Kathleen Prendergast Incumbent |
33.53% | 52,091 | |
| Democratic/Republican | Clyde Vedder |
31.05% | 48,249 | |
| Republican | Amber Kraft |
22.18% | 34,462 | |
| Democratic | Sandra Thompson | 13.24% | 20,577 | |
| Total Votes | 155,379 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Municipal Election," November 7, 2017 | ||||
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for three open seats on the York County Court of Common Pleas.[3]
| York County Court of Common Pleas, Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Kathleen Prendergast Incumbent |
25.00% | 9,363 |
| Sandra Thompson |
18.87% | 7,065 |
| Clyde Vedder |
13.59% | 5,091 |
| Amber Kraft | 13.55% | 5,076 |
| Timothy Barker | 10.48% | 3,925 |
| Matthew Menges | 6.21% | 2,327 |
| Peter Vaughn | 5.20% | 1,948 |
| Charles Hobbs | 4.05% | 1,516 |
| James Mann | 3.04% | 1,138 |
| Total Votes | 37,449 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Primary Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed May 16, 2017 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. | ||
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for three open seats on the York County Court of Common Pleas.[4]
| York County Court of Common Pleas, Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Kathleen Prendergast Incumbent |
17.63% | 12,609 |
| Amber Kraft |
15.41% | 11,021 |
| Clyde Vedder |
14.92% | 10,669 |
| Timothy Barker | 14.30% | 10,226 |
| Matthew Menges | 12.27% | 8,777 |
| James Mann | 8.93% | 6,384 |
| Sandra Thompson | 6.23% | 4,458 |
| Charles Hobbs | 5.22% | 3,733 |
| Peter Vaughn | 5.10% | 3,648 |
| Total Votes | 71,525 | |
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Primary Judge of the Court of Common Pleas," accessed May 16, 2017 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. | ||
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.[5][6] 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.[5][7]
- 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.[5][8]
Qualifications
To serve on an appellate or general jurisdiction court, a judge must:[5]
- 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.[8]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ York 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 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
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Pennsylvania Code, "Chapter 7. Assignment of Judges," accessed September 3, 2014
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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