League of Women Voters Alerts Pennsylvanians to Disinformation Targeting Supreme Court Election

In a strongly worded statement, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania has raised alarms about what it describes as a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at influencing the upcoming retention election for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy.

The nonpartisan civic organization, which has advocated for voter education for over a century, claims that right-wing groups are flooding the state with misleading information about Justice Mundy’s record and judicial philosophy. According to the League, these efforts appear designed to politicize what should be a nonpartisan retention vote.

“We’re seeing a troubling pattern of false claims and distortions being spread through social media, targeted advertising, and even door-to-door canvassing,” said Meg Pierce, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvanians deserve accurate information when deciding whether a justice should continue serving on our highest court.”

The retention election, scheduled for November 7, asks voters a simple yes-or-no question about whether Justice Mundy should remain on the bench for another 10-year term. She was originally appointed to fill a vacancy on the court in 2016 by then-Governor Tom Wolf and won election to a full term the following year.

Pennsylvania’s judicial retention elections historically attracted little attention or controversy. However, as courts have increasingly become battlegrounds for politically charged issues ranging from election procedures to abortion access, these typically low-key races have drawn heightened scrutiny and outside spending.

The League points to several examples of what it considers misleading information, including out-of-context quotes from Justice Mundy’s opinions and false claims about her rulings on election law cases. Some materials circulating online have inaccurately portrayed her position on mail-in ballots and voter ID requirements, two issues that have become politically charged in Pennsylvania since the 2020 election.

Political analysts note that the timing of this campaign is significant. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court currently has a 5-2 Democratic majority, making each seat crucial for both parties. The court has played a pivotal role in several high-profile cases in recent years, including redistricting decisions and election law interpretations that have had substantial political implications.

“Judicial retention elections were designed to evaluate judges based on their competence and integrity, not their political leanings,” said Dr. Michelle Deardorff, a political science professor at Temple University who specializes in judicial politics. “When these races become proxies for partisan battles, it undermines the independence of our courts.”

The League of Women Voters emphasized that their concern is not about protecting any particular justice but preserving the integrity of the judicial selection process. The organization has long advocated for merit-based judicial selection rather than partisan elections but maintains that until the system changes, voters need accurate information to make informed decisions.

In response to the alleged disinformation campaign, the League has launched its own voter education initiative, providing fact-based information about Justice Mundy’s record and the proper criteria for evaluating judicial performance. Their materials emphasize professional qualifications, judicial temperament, and ethical conduct rather than political considerations.

Several bar associations and judicial watchdog groups have joined the League in expressing concern about the politicization of retention elections. The Pennsylvania Bar Association, which conducts formal evaluations of judges, has recommended Justice Mundy for retention based on her qualifications and performance on the bench.

This controversy highlights broader national trends regarding judicial elections. Across the country, state supreme court races have become increasingly partisan and expensive, with outside groups pouring millions into campaigns that once operated largely outside the political spotlight.

As the election approaches, the League of Women Voters urges Pennsylvanians to seek information from reliable, nonpartisan sources and to consider judicial qualifications rather than political affiliation when casting their votes on Justice Mundy’s retention.

“The independence of our judiciary depends on keeping these decisions focused on merit, not politics,” Pierce said. “We’re asking voters to look beyond partisan messaging and evaluate Justice Mundy based on her actual record and qualifications.”