Daniel McCaffery | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Max Baer |
| Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 6,2020 –January 1,2024 | |
| Preceded by | Paula Francisco Ott |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Neuman |
| Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas | |
| In office January 6,2014 –January 6,2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 20,1964 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Seamus McCaffery (brother) |
| Education | Temple University (BA,JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | |
| Rank | |
| Unit | |
Daniel D. McCaffery (born July 20,1964) [1] [2] is an American lawyer who serves as a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court since 2024. He is a former judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court,serving from 2020 to 2024. He defeated Republican Carolyn Carluccio in the 2023 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election,winning with 53% of the vote.
After graduating from Father Judge High School in 1982,McCaffery joined the United States Army and served with the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood,Texas. [3] He attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. [3] After being honorably discharged from active duty,he served three more years in the Army Reserve. [3] He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Temple University in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law in 1991. [1] [4]
From 1991 to 1997,McCaffery was an assistant district attorney for Philadelphia County. From 1997 to 2014,he was a shareholder with Friedman,Schuman P.C. From 2014 to 2019,he was a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. [1] In 2019,he was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. [4] [5]
In November 2022,McCaffery announced his candidacy for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court left vacant by the death of fellow Democrat Max Baer. [6] He was endorsed by the state Democratic Party in February 2023, [7] and won the May 2023 primary against fellow Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman with 60% of the vote. [8] He went on to face the Republican nominee,Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Carluccio,in the general election. [9]
Abortion was the central theme of the general election. [10] Even though candidates in judicial elections typically avoid commenting on specific issues,McCaffery explicitly campaigned on protecting the right to an abortion. [11] [12] Carluccio declined to take a public position on the issue,but did say she would uphold Pennsylvania's law allowing abortion until 24 weeks after conception. [13] However,she was endorsed by the anti-abortion Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation,and the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania supported her because she called herself "pro-life". [13]
Over $22 million was spent during the campaign,making the election one of the most expensive Supreme Court elections in the Commonwealth's history. [14] Of that total,McCaffery and his allies spent over $13 million, [12] primarily funded by "the state Democratic Party,labor unions,and associations representing trial attorneys." [15]
On November 7,2023,he was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with 53% of the vote; [16] McCaffery's support for abortion rights has been credited as a major factor in his victory. [17] [18]