Sweeney wins seat on Allegheny County Common Pleas bench, 6 judges retained for new terms

Democrat Patrick A. Sweeney on Tuesday won this year’s only open seat on the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court bench, collecting nearly 59% of the votes cast to defeat Republican nominee Anthony DeLuca, according to unofficial results.

“Allegheny County voted for reform, for a justice system where systemic biases and resource disparities do not decide cases,” Sweeney said after declaring victory. “I will work tirelessly during my time on the bench to ensure that we are building a justice system that truly is for all.”

It was Sweeney’s third time running for a seat on the court.

Sweeney, 53, works as an assistant public defender, having joined the office in 1997. During his time there, Sweeney has handled more than 5,000 cases in the trial unit.

Sweeney also served as the bargaining unit secretary for the United Steelworkers local, which represents the public defenders, assistant district attorneys, crime lab analysts and IT workers in the Department of Court Records.

DeLuca’s practice focuses primarily on criminal defense and labor law.

Both Sweeney and DeLuca ran unsuccessfully for a 10-year seat in 2021. Sweeney also ran in 2015 but withdrew from the race when he failed to win the Democratic committee’s endorsement vote.

Six judges on Allegheny County’s Common Pleas Court also were up for a 10-year retention vote.

They included Eleanor L. Bush, Paul E. Cozza, Lawrence Joseph O’Toole, Jill E. Rangos, Jennifer Satler and Christine Ward.

All of them were retained handily, earning more than 60% of the vote.

Common Pleas judges in Allegheny County earn $216,056 annually.