Kevin Dougherty
Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Assumed office
January 4, 2016 (2016-01-04)[1][2]
Preceded byRonald D. Castille
Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
In office
2001–2015
Personal details
Born (1962-05-19) May 19, 1962[3]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[3]
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsJohnny Dougherty (brother)
Alma materAntioch School of Law
Temple University

Kevin M. Dougherty (born May 19, 1962) is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 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]

He had been appointed to the bench by Pennsylvania 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]

Dougherty graduated from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1988, and is a graduate of Temple University.[7] 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, indicted Philadelphia labor leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty.[11] Dougherty was the campaign's top fundraiser,[5] raising more than $3.5 million.[11]

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]

References

  1. ↑ "Drawing determines court seniority". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. December 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ "New PA Supreme Court Justices Poised For Swearing In". 90.5 WESA. December 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 American Bar Association Questionnaire
  4. 1 2 Kraus, Scott; Sheehan, Dan; Assad, Matt (November 4, 2015). "Incumbents fare well in Lehigh Valley elections". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Snapshot look at candidates for Pa. appellate courts". Delaware County Daily Times. Associated Press. November 3, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ Williams, Damon C. (October 31, 2015). "Black clergy group makes pick in state court race". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Get to know the candidates for state Supreme Court". LNP Media Group. October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "About Kevin". Kevin Dougherty for Supreme Court. 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Brandolph, Adam (May 1, 2015). "Philadelphia's Dougherty brothers spotlight differences as one vies for Supreme Court". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "David Wecht to seek state Supreme Court vacancy". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. December 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Palmer, Chris (November 3, 2015). "Dougherty, Dems, sweep historic Supreme Court race". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
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