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York College Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy releases York County Bar Association Judicial Candidate Evaluation Poll Results

May 11, 2023
Glatfelter Institute Landing Page

York College of Pennsylvania’s Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy conducted a poll of York County Bar Association members on the candidate running for the one judicial vacancy on the Court of Common Pleas in York County. The Bar Association’s 470 members were given an opportunity to evaluate the candidate, with the evaluation focused primarily on professional competence, judicial temperament, and integrity. 

The judicial evaluation poll is a long-standing community service activity of the York County Bar Association. The poll is undertaken as a public service and not for the purpose of endorsing any specific candidate or any political party; it is not a popularity poll. The results are offered as a resource to the public in determining which candidates are most qualified to serve as judges on the York County Court of Common Pleas.

In past polls, members of the York County Bar Association were asked to provide a single rating based on three categories for each of the candidates.

Revised in 2021, the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Poll asks members of the York County Bar Association to rate each candidate on specific qualities. Members rated the candidate as “Highly Qualified,” “Qualified,” “Not Presently Qualified,” or “No Opinion.”

A rating of “Highly Qualified” equates to 5 points. A ranking of “Qualified” equates to 3 points. A ranking of “Not Presently Qualified” equates to 1 point. A ranking of “No Opinion” equates to 0 points.

For a candidate to be rated as “Highly Qualified,” they must receive a minimum of 86 points. For a candidate to rated “Qualified,” they must receive between 60-85 points. For a candidate to be rated as “Not Presently Qualified,” they must receive less than 60 points. The final ratings consist of the average of the total points received divided by the number of respondents.

The York County Bar Association and its members serve in the unique role of judicial officers in the community. For anyone who participates in any proceedings in the local legal system, whether as a party or a witness, and whether the case involves a civil, domestic, or criminal matter, nothing matters more than the opportunity to be heard before a fair, impartial, and qualified judge. The reputation the court system and its judges enjoy in the impartial administration of justice and application of the law contributes to the overall stability and security of the public and provides certainty, stability, and clarity to personal and commercial relationships. 

206 members participated in the poll, which equates to a 44% response rate. The results, tabulated and released on May 10, 2023, are as follows:

 

Overall Results – Average Score Out of 100 Points

Kelley Margetas

69 – Qualified

 

The following tables provide detailed results of the specific qualities assessed by members of the York County Bar Association.

 

Professional Competence – Average Score Out of 5 Points (Rounded to Nearest Whole Number)

 

Kelley Margetas

Intellectual Capacity

4

Judgement

3

Legal writing

3

Analytical ability

3

Industry, or knowledge of the law

3

Scholarship and academic talent

3

Professional contributions

3

Professional experience, including such areas as: years of practice, trial experience, work with administrative agencies and arbitration boards

3

Law school teaching

3

Public service

3

AVERAGE TOTAL SCORE (OUT OF 50)

33

Please note: Average total score may not equal summation of individual characteristics due to rounding.

 

Judicial Temperament – Average Score Out of 5 Points (Rounded to Nearest Whole Number)

 

Kelley Margetas

Compassion and open-mindedness

4

Decisiveness

4

Sensitivity

4

Courtesy

4

Patience

4

Freedom from bias

3

Commitment to justice

4

AVERAGE TOTAL SCORE (OUT OF 35)

25

Please note: Average total score may not equal summation of individual characteristics due to rounding.

 

Integrity – Average Score Out of 5 Points (Rounded to Nearest Whole Number)

 

Kelley Margetas

Character

4

General reputation in the legal community

3

General reputation in the non-legal community

4

AVERAGE TOTAL SCORE (OUT OF 15)

11