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Statewide political officials of Pennsylvania | ||
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Kevin Dougherty | |
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| Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Ronald D. Castille |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 19,1962 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Sean Dougherty (son) Johnny Dougherty (brother) |
| Education | Temple University (BA) Antioch School of Law (JD) |
Kevin M. Dougherty (born May 19,1962) [1] is a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. [2] [3] Before his election in 2015, [4] Dougherty had served on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia since 2001, [5] serving as an administrative judge of the trial division. [6] His brother is former labor leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty.
Dougherty grew up in South Philadelphia in what he described as a "very blue-collar,working-class neighborhood",and was the first from his family to graduate college,working three part-time jobs as he attended Temple. [7] He graduated from the Antioch School of Law in Washington,D.C. in 1988,and is a graduate of Temple University. [7]
He was appointed to the bench by Governor Tom Ridge in 2001,and was elected to the first of two 10-year terms later that year, [5] [7] receiving the most vote among 14 candidates. After his election,he requested to be assigned to the family division,where he felt he could have the most significant societal impact, [8] and has prided himself on helping families and children during his judicial career. [9] Dougherty became Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Division of Philadelphia Family Court in 2003. [8] [9] There he implemented reforms like easing access to the court and what he called a "changing of the culture" among a judiciary of mostly older judges. He received 78 percent of the vote when he ran for retention in 2011,and received support from both Democrats and Republicans. [9]
He ran as a Democrat for Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2015, [10] and was part of a Democratic sweep of all three court vacancies,along with David Wecht,and Christine Donohue. They defeated Republican candidates Judith Olsen,Michael George,and Anne Covey,in a campaign that saw more than $15 million in donations from special interests. [4] Dougherty received a "recommended" rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association,and received strong support from organized labor groups, [5] in part due to Dougherty's relationship with his brother,former Philadelphia labor leader John J. "Johnny Doc" Dougherty,who was convicted of fraud and embezzlement in 2023. [11] [12] His brother was his campaign's top fundraiser, [5] raising more than $3.5 million. [12] While on the court,Dougherty has led initiatives to create more inclusive courtrooms for people with sensory issues. [13]
Statewide political officials of Pennsylvania | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators | | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |