Westmoreland County judge candidates tout experience to court voters

The three candidates for two spots on the Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court bench combined to spend more than $800,000 this year as their campaigns approach next week’s finish line.

Voters on Tuesday will choose among Hempfield lawyer Michael Stewart II, Unity attorney Jessica Rafferty and Justin Walsh, a two-term state representative from Rostraver.

According to campaign reports, Rafferty, 39, an associate at the Greensburg firm of Quatrini Rafferty, spent more than $413,000 since the January, with nearly $200,000 of that spent since mid-June. Financial records revealed that Rafferty’s campaign is primarily self-funded and from large donations from family members. The campaign listed less than $14,000 in small individual donations.

Stewart’s campaign reported about $300,000 in spending this year, with the bulk of those expenses paid out during the spring primary season. His reports showed he, too, funded the campaign with his own money and large gifts and loans from family members. Stewart reported more than $57,000 in campaign expenses since June.

Stewart, 37, is a partner with the Greensburg law firm of Stewart, McArdle, Sorice, Whalen, Farrell, Finoli & Cavanaugh. He is a registered Democrat who won nominations last spring as both a Democrat and a Republican.

Rafferty is a registered Democrat. Walsh is a Republican.

Walsh spent more than $100,000 during the judicial campaign. He has served as an elected member of the state’s House of Representatives since 2017 and continues to work part time as a general practice attorney. According to his campaign finance records, Walsh funded his judicial election with individual donations, gifts from fellow lawmakers and with funds transferred from his state House campaign committee.

Each of the candidates said their message to voters is one that focuses on their legal experience.

Stewart said he’s qualified to work as a judge because of his trial and courtroom experience. His legal practice focuses on family court and civil matters.

“I think I have the most courtroom experience, and I’ve been in courtrooms almost everyday for the last 10 years,” Stewart said. “Being in trial, being in court, I have the background and trial experience and the right temperament.”

Although he has not worked as a full-time lawyer for the last three years, Walsh, 47, said his 22 years as an attorney make him the most qualified to sit as a judge.

“I have broad-based legal experience. I didn’t practice in one area only,” Walsh said. “What I’ve learned being a state representative is that we have three separate branches of government and that we need good, conservative judges.”

Personal politics should not impact judicial decisions, he said.

“You have to apply the law as intended and I wholeheartedly agree with that. You can’t legislate from the bench. If I wanted to do that, I’d stay where I’m at,” Walsh said.

Stewart agreed.

“I don’t think the courthouse is a place for politics. I never went into a courtroom thinking this judge is a Democrat or Republican,” Stewart said.

Rafferty said she has no intention of letting politics play any role in decisions she will make as a judge.

“There is no reason for politics. I have never run for any other office and you are not elected as a judge to make a political statement,” Rafferty said.

She said her background working with children and families, having worked previously with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Danville Center for Adolescent Females and serving in the U.S. Peace Corps, prepared her to work as a family court judge.

“I would be serving in family court, and that’s truly where I want to be because that is my background. It sets me apart from the other candidates because it’s important to catch children at a young age, before they get into trouble with the law,” Rafferty said. “I’ve been working with at-risk children and families for 18 years. Having that hands-on experience is important.”