PACleanSweep, a non-partisan effort to reform state government in Pennsylvania, today announced its campaign to defeat all 67 judicial candidates up for retention in November. The group unveiled its campaign during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg this morning and unveiled a new Judicial CleanSweep section of its website at www.pacleansweep.com.

Candidates for retention have no opponents. Retention elections are simple 'yes' or 'no' questions where voters are asked whether they wish to reward judges with a new term.

All Pennsylvanians - regardless of party affiliation - will have an opportunity to cast a vote on seven statewide judges from the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts on November 6. 53 Common Pleas Court judges will also be on the ballot for retention in various counties scattered across the state. All these judges are seeking new ten-year terms.

In Philadelphia, where voters can cast a vote on the seven statewide judges and 10 Common Pleas judges, voters will also determine whether six Municipal Court judges and one Traffic Court judge receive new six-year terms. The next-busiest retention election area will be York County, where voters will decide the fates of six Common Pleas judges.

PACleanSweep has developed a list of all judges up for retention on its website with a link to county-by-county lists for use by voters across Pennsylvania. The group is recruiting volunteers to work the polls on Election Day to help educate other voters about the retentions and has released the first of its Top Ten Reasons to Vote NO on November 6, entitled "The Judicial Swindle."

"The twisted judicial pay raise decision by the Supreme Court and the fact that every single judge in the state has benefited from it is the first issue every Pennsylvanian needs to consider," said Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep chair. "We'll be offering more valid reasons to vote 'no' over the next seven weeks, but this is one that grates on citizens more than most."

Of the 67 judges seeking retention, 25 would not be able to serve out the entire term they seek due to Pennsylvania's mandatory judicial retirement age of 70. This number includes five of the seven statewide appellate court retention candidates. After a retirement, the Governor appoints a successor until a new contested election can be held to fill that particular seat.

PACleanSweep is basing its retention campaign objectives on an online poll made available over the last month to website visitors and email subscribers. The results of the poll are available at www.pacleansweep.com.

"Reform-minded people have spoken and this organization is dedicated to doing the people's work," added Diamond. "Judges may decide the law, but the people decide who the judges are."