PHOTO PROVIDED Dan McCaffery, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Supreme Court, poses for a picture.

LOCK HAVEN — Dan McCaffery, a judge in the Pennsylvania Superior Court, believes he has the skills to bring unity to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

McCaffery,the Democratic candidate on the ballot in the November election, is hoping to earn a 10-year term as a Supreme Court Justice in November’s General Election.

After serving in the United State Army on active duty in the First Cavalry Division, McCaffery attended Temple University and Temple University of Law School.

During his time practicing law, McCaffery was part of — and named a partner — in Jaffe, Friedman, Schuman, Nemeroff and Applebaum PC in Montgomery County; was an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

In 2013 he was elected onto the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and later was elected onto the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2019. He currently serves as supervising judge for wiretaps after being selected by the State Supreme Court to serve on the Court of Judicial Discipline.

While traveling throughout the state for his campaign, McCaffery spoke with The Express’s editorial board via phone about his campaign.

In McCaffery’s opinion, the role of a Supreme Court Justice is often defined as being the last word on areas of law within the Commonwealth.

However, he said, “I think our real role is to define the relationships between government and citizens.”

In terms of his experience, McCaffery said he can bring a unique skill set, having practiced law for 33 years.

“I’ve got just the widest breadth of experience of anyone in my lifetime who has run for Supreme Court,” McCaffery said.

From his time in the Philadelphia’s DA’s office, where he tried “several thousands of cases, including over 50 jury trials, to verdict” to practicing private law, which saw him deal with commercial, corporate and municipal litigations — representing townships, boroughs and other municipalities.

“I did pretty much everything across the board while simultaneously building my own practice,” he said.

McCaffery said his work as a trial judge in one of the busiest jurisdictions in the state, where he presided over well over 200 jury trials.

Although his law background is one reason why he feels he is fit to serve as Supreme Court Justice, McCaffery said his upbringing also plays a role.

“I come from a very blue collar working class background,” he said. “One thing I’ve noticed over 33 years of practicing law is that sometimes the average person doesn’t get a fair shake in the courtroom.”

This mindset, paired with his skillset and common sense approach is what McCaffery would like to bring to the Supreme Court.

He further noted he is one of nine judges charged with disciplinary action brought against judicial officers in the state.

“So I know exactly where judges make their mistakes and how best to rectify them,” he said.

This skillset is what McCaffery said he’d bring to the Supreme Court and attempt to bring a unifying mindset.

“One of the things I’ve long said is I think the Supreme Court should, where possible, speak with one voice,” he said. “Because they are really giving guidance on the law. So when you have seven justices and seven different opinions that doesn’t really provide any guidance or a road map to practitioners of the law.”

McCaffery said he’d tackle this issue by building collegial relationships with the other justices — which he said he already has due to his work within the judicial system.

“I’ve got a working, professional and personal relationship with just about every member of the court,” he said. “Which gives me an inside track and an upper left, kind of, on anybody else that could be running for this particular spot.”

This approach is one McCaffery said he would use for any case that comes to the Supreme Court.

In terms of current issues the judicial body is facing, McCaffery said he believes the issue regarding school funding — although he is unable to comment fully on the issue due to not having access to the briefs.

“While it’s something I’m watching, it’s not something I’m willing to comment on one way or another,” he said.