U.S. District Judge Marvin Katz last week ruled that judicial candidates in Pennsylvania can discuss their views on political issues, including abortion, as long as they do not promise to rule in a particular way if elected, The Associated Press reported.
With assistance from Focus on the Family Action, the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI) and six judicial candidates from Lancaster County, Pa., in May filed a federal lawsuit that claimed a lack of clarity in the rule.
PFI mailed a questionnaire to 120 candidates for state and county judgeships in the May 15 primary, seeking their views on abortion and other issues. Nineteen candidates responded, and many of the candidates who responded declined to answer some questions, citing their concerns about ethics rules violations, the Kaiser Network reported.
PFI President Michael Geer said the ruling provided clarity. "We accomplished the public good we were seeking," Geer said, adding that the ruling will make it "tough for judicial candidates to simply hide" behind the rule.
