Judge Patricia A. McCullough Runs for State Supreme Court

Candidate: Judge Patricia A. McCullough

Court: State Supreme Court

Party: Republican

Pennsylvania Bar Association rating: Not Recommended for failure to participate

The following has been edited lightly for length and style.

The Legal Intelligencer: Tell us about your background, where you went to law school, what firms you have practiced at, and areas of law you focus on.

Judge Patricia A. McCullough: I have served as a statewide appellate court judge on the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania for over 12 years and am currently in my second 10-year term. I have handled complex civil and administrative and litigation matters concerning the Constitutions of Pennsylvania and the United States, and challenges to laws and government action, including election integrity, second amendment, education, zoning, insurance, redistricting, Right to Know Law, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, taxes, PUC, freedom of religion etc. I was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as a member and chair of Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee for six years. I served as a trial court judge in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas when I was appointed by the governor, with the unanimous consent of state Senate in 2005.

For 25 years I practiced as an attorney in private, corporate and government sectors. I served as assistant general counsel at the University of Pittsburgh, an adjunct faculty member, member of the NCAA Career Counseling panel, judicial clerk, chair of the Allegheny County Board of Property Appeals, executive director of Catholic Charities, where I oversaw the implementation of its free health care center and in private practice handling litigation, prof employment contracts, zoning, nonprofit corporations, estate, tax and miscellaneous matters.

I received my Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating magna cum laude, and my Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. I served as an officer of the student bar association and received a senatorial scholarship. I clerked in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office throughout law school, clerked at a small private practice firm, clerked for Sen. Mike Fisher and was a judicial law clerk for Judge Sam Rodgers.

The Legal: What is one major thing about your career experience that most qualifies you for this position, and why?

McCullough: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Pennsylvania. I am the only Republican candidate who is an appellate court judge, and the only candidate who has over 12 years of experience as an appellate court judge. Having reviewed decisions of trial court judges and state and local agencies, I have developed an expertise in applying the standard of review required for the Supreme Court. I am the only candidate who has handled and upheld the Constitutional rights of the people in critical matters concerning election integrity, limiting the governor’s COVID mandates, upholding the Second Amendment, (four times in last year alone), congressional redistricting, constitutional challenges to state laws, taxes, environmental issues and more.

As a Commonwealth Court judge I also sit as a statewide trial court judge in matters concerning the governor, state Senate and House, constitutional challenges to state laws, etc. I have gained important administrative experience by serving on the Commonwealth Court’s IOP committee, the annual budget and case report committee, the search committees for the executive director and the prothonotary, and serving as secretary for our judicial conferences. Additionally, my role as chair of the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee required oversight of and coordination with judges, high-level attorneys specialized in their fields, and the prothonotaries of the appellate courts. I also served as a trial court judge and practiced as an attorney for 25 years in private, corporate and government sectors.

The Legal: What is the main reason Pennsylvania voters should pick you?

McCullough: We are in a constitutional crisis. I have the experience required to hit the ground running on day one in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional rights of the people. I will continue to abide by my oath and uphold the Constitution, as written, and the rights and liberties of the people in critical matters impacting every Pennsylvanian. In the last year alone I upheld the second amendment four times, ruled in favor of limiting the governor’s COVID mandates, joined in ruling Act 77 is unconstitutional, opined health care workers who are fired for choosing to wear a mask instead of take COVID vaccine should not lose unemployment compensation benefits, presided as the trial judge over the Congressional Redistricting case and upheld the constitutional right of legislature to draw the map, as well as other important decisions protecting election integrity and other rights in Pennsylvania. The people can see from my record that I abide by my oath to uphold the Constitution and do not legislate from the bench. I am fair and impartial and uphold the rule of law. It is critical that we elect a justice who will uphold the Constitution and fairly apply the rule of law. I will continue to do that as a justice on the Supreme Court.

The Legal: What will be your approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system? 

McCullough: As a member and chair of the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee, I have already worked on issues concerning PACFile and other matters to improve efficient processing of cases. It is also necessary to ensure that courts across Pennsylvania are equipped to process cases in the event of emergency or heath issues. [The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts] and the Supreme Court have been working with courts statewide to assist in improving the ability of all courts to continue to process cases in those circumstances. It is also critical to have continuing dialogue with the legal community concerning difficulties they are experiencing and quickly work to resolve them. I will continue to engage in the ongoing process of oversight to make the courts accessible and efficient.

The Legal: What would you say to voters regarding your plans to ensure the equal administration of justice for all people?

McCullough: As a justice I will work to uphold compliance with the constitutional mandates for due process of law and that no person be denied within our jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. As I did on the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee, I will work to simplify the rules to ensure access to the courts, including for pro se parties. During the COVID pandemic, the Commonwealth Court continued to process cases, hear argument and conduct hearings and trials through online access or in-court attendance with courtroom health precautions put in place. I will work to ensure similar access will be provided. I have also worked with many programs that help to improve the system of justice which includes those for veterans, victims, drug addiction, youth at risk, human trafficking and reducing recidivism. I will continue to abide by my oath to uphold the Constitutions of Pennsylvania and the United States, and I will be fair and impartial and uphold the rule of law.

The Legal: Where can voters go for more information about you?

McCullough: Info@judgemccullough4supremecourt or www.judgemccullough4supremecourt.com.