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Daniel McCaffery
Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2024
Preceded byMax Baer
Personal details
Born (1964-07-20) July 20, 1964 (age 60)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesSeamus McCaffery (brother)
EducationTemple University (BA, JD)
WebsiteCampaign website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service
  • 1983–1985 (active)
  • 1985–1989 (reserve)
RankSergeant
Unit1st Cavalry Division

Daniel D. McCaffery (born July 20, 1964)[1][2] is an American lawyer who serves as a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court since 2024. He is a former judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, serving from 2020 to 2024. He defeated Republican Carolyn Carluccio in the 2023 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election, winning with 53% of the vote.

Military service and education

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After graduating from Father Judge High School in 1982, McCaffery joined the United States Army and served with the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.[3] He attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School.[3] After being honorably discharged from active duty, he served three more years in the Army Reserve.[3] He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Temple University in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law in 1991.[1][4]

Career

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From 1991 to 1997, McCaffery was an assistant district attorney for Philadelphia County. From 1997 to 2014, he was a shareholder with Friedman, Schuman P.C. From 2014 to 2019, he was a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.[1] In 2019, he was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.[4][5]

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

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In November 2022, McCaffery announced his candidacy for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court left vacant by the death of fellow Democrat Max Baer.[6] He was endorsed by the state Democratic Party in February 2023,[7] and won the May 2023 primary against fellow Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman with 60% of the vote.[8] He went on to face the Republican nominee, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Carluccio, in the general election.[9]

Abortion was the central theme of the general election.[10] Even though candidates in judicial elections typically avoid commenting on specific issues, McCaffery explicitly campaigned on protecting the right to an abortion.[11][12] Carluccio declined to take a public position on the issue, but did say she would uphold Pennsylvania's law allowing abortion until 24 weeks after conception.[13] However, she was endorsed by the anti-abortion Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, and the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania supported her because she called herself "pro-life".[13]

Over $22 million was spent during the campaign, making the election one of the most expensive Supreme Court elections in the Commonwealth's history.[14] Of that total, McCaffery and his allies spent over $13 million,[12] primarily funded by "the state Democratic Party, labor unions, and associations representing trial attorneys."[15]

On November 7, 2023, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with 53% of the vote;[16] McCaffery's support for abortion rights has been credited as a major factor in his victory.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Personal Data Questionnaire" (PDF). January 13, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 14, 2023.
  2. ^ McCaffery, Judge Dan [@JudgeMcCaffery] (July 20, 2023). "Please join us in wishing Judge Dan McCaffery a heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Let's celebrate our Judge and our love for Pennsylvania by doubling down to ensure we elect him to the PA Supreme Court! http://judgemccaffery.com" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c "Judge Daniel D. McCaffery". www.pacourts.us. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Judge Daniel D. McCaffery". www.pacourts.us. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Caruso, Stephen; Huangpu, Kate; Meyer, Katie (November 3, 2023). "Who is Daniel McCaffery, running for PA Supreme Court?". Spotlight PA. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "McCaffery to run for open seat on Pennsylvania high court". WESA. Associated Press. November 18, 2022. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Democrats Endorse Philly Judge for Seat on Pa.'s Supreme Court". NBC10 Philadelphia. Associated Press. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "2023 Municipal Primary Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Caruso, Stephen; Huangpu, Kate (September 6, 2023). "Pa. election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for state Supreme Court". WHYY. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Lyons, Kim (November 8, 2023). "How abortion became the central issue in Pennsylvania's Supreme Court race". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Blumenthal, Paul (October 25, 2023). "Pennsylvania Supreme Court Race Tests Democrats' Post-Roe Strategy On Abortion Rights". Yahoo! News. Huffington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Levy, Marc (November 9, 2023). "Expensive judicial races might be here to stay in Pennsylvania after record high court campaign". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Levy, Marc (August 24, 2023). "Democrats in Pennsylvania want to keep a Supreme Court majority. They are talking up abortion rights". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Levy, Marc (November 3, 2023). "Pennsylvania's election will be headlined by races for statewide courts, including a high court seat". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Caruso, Stephen; Huangpu, Kate (October 31, 2023). "Lots of spending as PA Supreme Court race nears end". Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Brandt, Joe (November 7, 2023). "Dan McCaffery edges Carolyn Carluccio in contested, expensive Pa. Supreme Court race". CBS Philadelphia. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  17. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian; Terruso, Julia (November 9, 2023). "After another disappointing night for Pa. Republicans, the GOP struggles to find an answer to abortion". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Weisman, Jonathan; Epstein, Reid J. (November 8, 2023). "How Abortion Lifted Democrats, and More Takeaways From Tuesday's Elections". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
2024–present 		Incumbent
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