The Republican Party / Origin of ‘GOP’

The Republican Party
 Origin of ‘GOP’

A favorite of headline writers, GOP dates back to the 1870s and ’80s. The abbreviation was cited in a New York Herald story on Oct. 15, 1884; “‘ The G.O.P. Doomed,’ shouted the Boston Post…. The Grand Old Party is in condition to inquire….”

But what GOP stands for has changed with the times. In 1875 there was a citation in the Congressional Record referring to “this gallant old party,” and, according to Harper’s Weekly, in the Cincinnati Commercial in 1876 to “Grand Old Party.”

Perhaps the use of “the G.O.M.” for Britain’s Prime Minister William E. Gladstone in 1882 as ” the Grand Old Man” stimulated the use of GOP in the United States soon after.

In early motorcar days, GOP took on the term “get out and push.” During the 1964 presidential campaign, “Go-Party” was used briefly, and during the Nixon Administration, frequent references to the “generation of peace” had happy overtones. In line with moves in the ’70s to modernize the party, Republican leaders took to referring to the “grand old party,” harkening back to a 1971 speech by President Nixon at the dedication of the Eisenhower Republican Center in Washington, D.C.

Indeed, the “grand old party” is an ironic term, since the Democrat Party was organized some 22 years earlier in 1832.

Source: The Republican National Committee

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Why does it seems after we elect a judge he’s always there? What does it mean when the judge appears on the ballot for “retention?”

How Pennsylvania Judicial Elections Work

Currently in Pennsylvania, elections to fill vacancies on the courts are held in odd-numbered years. Appellate court and common pleas court candidates run in partisan elections (i.e., under a party label) for terms of ten years; minor court candidates also run in partisan elections, but for six year terms. Typically, the major political parties endorse candidates to run. For trial judges only, a candidate may receive the endorsement of both parties. Following completion of a term, a judge can stand for successive ten-year terms in retention elections (non-partisan, uncontested yes/no votes) up until mandatory retirement at the age of seventy.

Like other candidates who run for office in contested elections, judicial candidates must raise money to finance their campaigns. Typically, contributors to such campaigns are the very parties, litigants and lawyers who ultimately appear before the courts on which the candidates are seeking to serve.  Additionally, third party special interest groups have become increasingly active in judicial elections, funding advertising campaigns and making contributions to candidates. Rules of conduct do not require judges to recuse themselves in cases involving campaign contributors.

Historically, judicial elections in Pennsylvania have not generated nearly as much media coverage, citizen interest or participation as elections for representative office, such as governor, senator, or representative. Voters, in fact, have complained that they have not had much information available to them in making decisions between candidates. This perceived lack of information in large part resulted from codes of conduct prohibiting judicial candidates from announcing their views on disputed issues likely to come before them on the courts.

Who may run for judicial office in Pennsylvania?

Under the current system, the only requirements for an individual to run for judicial office are:

  • United States citizenship;
  • Residency of at least one year in Pennsylvania (or, for local elections, in the county);
  • Membership in the bar of the Supreme Court; and
  • At least 21 years old.

Judicial candidates are not required to have tried any cases or even actually practiced law at all, let alone for any minimum number of years.

How long are judges elected for?

Most judges are elected for ten year terms. This is true for elections to fill judicial vacancies, as well as for subsequent retention elections.  However, municipal court and traffic judges in Philadelphia serve six year terms.

What is a retention election?

Retention elections are non-partisan, uncontested yes-no votes. This differs from an election to fill a judicial vacancy where candidates run in partisan elections (i.e. under a party label.) Following completion of an initial term, a judge can stand for successive ten-year terms in retention elections until he or she reaches age 70, the mandatory retirement age.

What happens if there is a vacancy created mid-term?

In the event a vacancy is created by the retirement, resignation, death or election of a judge to a higher court, an interim vacancy is created. The vacancy is filled by nomination by the Governor and confirmation by a two-thirds vote of the state Senate. Typically, for appellate court interim vacancies, the nominee’s confirmation is conditioned on a promise that he or she will not run in the succeeding election to fill the vacancy.

Who are current judges and justices on the Pennsylvania courts?

To view PMC’s charts on the current composition of the Supreme Court, click here, and on the Superior and Commenwealth Courts, click here.

http://www.pmconline.org/node/31

Important Election in 2013

Did you know we have a very important election happening in November of 2013?  More important than a presidential election?  Many people take the office of judge with little or no interest.  Who decides what happens to us here Pennsylvania?  Our judge races are very important!  Support Vic Stabile for PA Superior Court Judge.  blinky

Vic Stabile for Superior Court
Judge of Pennsylvania

Vic Stabile is the 2013 State Republican Party Endorsed Candidate
for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Republican Women Need YOU!

thumb_election_unclesamRepublican Women across the nation have joined forces to bring American back to the principles it was founded upon and the republican party back to the values it was founded upon.  Republican Women is organized in three tiers, national (NFRW), state (PFRW) and local councils.  If you are not part of Republican Women, why not join?  You can put as much or as little time into it as your schedule allows.  National consists of all 50 states and their website is loaded with information!  Pennsylvania’s federation is even older that national’s!  Local clubs are found throughout the state of Pennsylvania.  It take ten members to form a club. Why not join a club or start your own today?

For more information contact Irene Harris, PFRW State Director at rockstargop@verizon.net

Please keep the Wyda family in your prayers

Rob Wyda, district judge for Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, dies at 54

August 6, 2013 10:06 am

By Mary Niederberger / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

District Judge Rob Wyda, who served Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, died Monday evening.

According to the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office, the cause of death was heart disease.

Judge Wyda, 54, was a lawyer before his election to the district court position in Bethel Park in 1999. He took office in January 2000.

The office was later merged with the Upper St. Clair district court office to become one of the largest magisterial districts in the county.

Before becoming a district judge, he spent seven years as an assistant district attorney and three years as an assistant court administrator supervising the county’s district justices.

He ran a brief campaign for Superior Court this spring, but withdrew before the primary.

He was also a member of the Naval reserves and a Navy judge advocate who took assignments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay between 2003 and 2008.

Published August 6, 2013 10:05 am