The Autonomous Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association is charged with interviewing and rating candidates for the position of Judge on the Court of Common Pleas.

The Judiciary Committee is composed of the Association’s ten most recent Past Presidents and a rotating panel of twenty-four lawyers, all with the diversity of background, experience, practice, and geography within Montgomery County, possessing several hundred years of combined legal experience.

The Committee is charged to rate a sitting Judge seeking retention as recommended or not recommended for retention.

The Committee considers and rates the candidates on the following criteria:

• Integrity;
• Good moral character;
• Industry;
• Good health;
• Legal ability;
• Bench trial, jury trial, or evidentiary hearing experience;
• Judicial temperament (patience, courtesy, compassion, impartiality, humility, even temper, sense of fairness).

This rating process is a public service intended to fairly evaluate the candidates and to educate the public regarding the candidates and the evaluation.

The Autonomous Judiciary Committee recommends that the following Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, be retained:

The Honorable Thomas C. Branca – RECOMMENDED

The Honorable Richard P. Haaz – RECOMMENDED

Established in 1885 to professionalize the county’s practice of law, the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) is one of our nation’s oldest and most respected bar associations, representing over 2,100 legal professionals in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

The MBA has a longstanding tradition of service to its membership and the community. For members, the MBA offers an important arena for networking, professional development, and education.

For the community, the MBA serves as a trusted legal resource, offering education, legal assistance, and funds and resources for individuals and agencies in need.

The Association is actively engaged in public service through community outreach, free educational events offered throughout the year, programs like the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project, the Mock Trial Competitions for high-school students, and more.

For more information on the Montgomery Bar Association visit here.