- Mary Jane Bowes
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Mary Jane Bowes Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania Incumbent Assumed office
January 2002[1]Personal details Born July 18, 1954 [2]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[2]Political party Republican Party Alma mater Georgetown University
University of Pittsburgh School of Law[2]Mary Jane Bowes (born July 18, 1954) is a judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. She was elected in 2001 and began her term in January 2002.[1]
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Education and legal career
Bowes earned a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University in 1976 and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1979. After graduating law school, she clerked for Chief Justice Henry X. O'Brien of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Senior Judges Harry Montgomery and John P. Hester of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.[1]
From 1986 until 1998, she worked in private practice.[1] From 1998 until 2001, she served as corporate counsel to a large environmental remediation firm.[3]
2001 Superior Court election
In Pennsylvania's 2001 judicial elections, Bowes ran as a Republican for one of three open seats on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. She was one of four Republicans and three Democrats to run.[4] She received a rating of "not recommended" from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which cited her "extremely limited" trial and appellate advocacy experience.[3] However, she was endorsed for the Republican nomination by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[4] and also received the endorsement of the Republican State Committee.[5]
In the primary, Bowes received 428,013 votes, or 29.1%, more than any other candidate in the Republican primary race. Along with fellow Republicans Richard B. Klein and John T. Bender, she went on to the general election to face Democrats David Wecht, Lydia Y. Kirkland, and Stephanie Domitrovich.[6]
In the general election, she was again endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[7] She ultimately received 1,006,251 votes, or 18.7%, the second-most of any of the six candidates.[8] Since she was among the top three candidates, she won a seat on the Superior Court.
Both of the other two winning Superior Court candidates were Republicans too. Analysts attributed the Republican sweep to low urban turnout.[9]
2011 retention election
Bowes's initial ten-year term will end in December 2011.[1] In Pennsylvania's 2011 judicial elections, Bowes faced a retention vote to decide whether she would serve another term. The Pennsylvania Bar Association recommended that voters elect to retain her, citing her work ethic, intellect, community involvement, and clear writing.[10] In the general election on November 8, Pennsylvanians voted overwhelmingly to retain her.[11]
Retention of Judge Mary Jane Bowes Candidate Votes Percentage Yes 1,053,491 73.5% No 379,511 26.5% Total votes 1,433,002 100% References
- ^ a b c d e "Honorable Mary Jane Bowes". The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5yRPWrPMC. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Judges of the Superior Court". The Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. http://replay.web.archive.org/20090509170747/http://www.superior.court.state.pa.us/bios.htm. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission 2001 candidate ratings" (PDF). Pennsylvania Bar Association. 2001. http://www.pabar.org/public/committees/jec/2001Ratings.pdf. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Judicious choices; primary endorsements for state and county courts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. E-2. May 6, 2001.
- ^ "State GOP endorses judicial candidates". Lancaster New Era: p. B-2. February 12, 2001.
- ^ "2001 Municipal Primary". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 4, 2011. http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=3. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ "Best for the bench; our choices for Superior, Commonwealth Courts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. E-2. October 21, 2001.
- ^ "2001 Municipal Election". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 4, 2011. http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=4. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
- ^ Roddy, Dennis B. (November 7, 2001). "Eakin leads GOP sweep of court seats; low Philadelphia, Pittsburgh turnouts hurt Democrats". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: p. A-13.
- ^ "PBA Judicial Evaluation Commission Releases Retention Ratings for Judicial Candidates" (Press release). Pennsylvania Bar Association. September 28, 2011. http://www.pabar.org/public/news%20releases/pr092811.asp. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "2011 Municipal Election". Pennsylvania Department of State. 2011. http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=44. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
Categories:- 1962 births
- Judges of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- Living people
- Pennsylvania Republicans
- Pennsylvania lawyers
- People from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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