Kevin Dougherty
Kevin Dougherty | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ronald D. Castille |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 19, 1962 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Sean Dougherty (son) Johnny Dougherty (brother) |
| Education | Temple University (BA) Antioch School of Law (JD) |
Kevin M. Dougherty (born May 19, 1962)[1] is a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.[2][3] Before his election in 2015,[4] Dougherty had served on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia since 2001,[5] serving as an administrative judge of the trial division.[6] His brother is former labor leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty.
Biography
[edit | edit source]Dougherty grew up in South Philadelphia in what he described as a "very blue-collar, working-class neighborhood", and was the first from his family to graduate college, working three part-time jobs as he attended Temple.[7] He graduated from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1988, and is a graduate of Temple University.[7]
He was appointed to the bench by Governor Tom Ridge in 2001, and was elected to the first of two 10-year terms later that year,[5][7] receiving the most vote among 14 candidates. After his election, he requested to be assigned to the family division, where he felt he could have the most significant societal impact,[8] and has prided himself on helping families and children during his judicial career.[9] Dougherty became Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Division of Philadelphia Family Court in 2003.[8][9] There he implemented reforms like easing access to the court and what he called a "changing of the culture" among a judiciary of mostly older judges. He received 78 percent of the vote when he ran for retention in 2011, and received support from both Democrats and Republicans.[9]
He ran as a Democrat for Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015,[10] and was part of a Democratic sweep of all three court vacancies, along with David Wecht, and Christine Donohue. They defeated Republican candidates Judith Olsen, Michael George, and Anne Covey, in a campaign that saw more than $15 million in donations from special interests.[4] Dougherty received a "recommended" rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and received strong support from organized labor groups,[5] in part due to Dougherty's relationship with his brother, former Philadelphia labor leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, who was convicted of fraud and embezzlement in 2023.[11][12] His brother was his campaign's top fundraiser,[5] raising more than $3.5 million.[12] While on the court, Dougherty has led initiatives to create more inclusive courtrooms for people with sensory issues.[13]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ American Bar Association Questionnaire
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External links
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