Dwayne Woodruff Throws Hat Into Ring For Pa. Supreme Court Justice

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Mel Blount, Craig Bingham, Chuckie Okobi and Chris Hoke were all downtown at the County Courthouse today.

The former Steelers were among those supporting family court judge Dwayne Woodruff, a former teammate, in his run for justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Three seats are open, two because of a scandal. Former justice Joan Orie Melvin was convicted of using public resources for campaign work. Andy former justice Seamus McCaffrey resigned amid a scandal involving pornographic emails.

Woodruff says the scandals didn't compel him to run, but says judges have to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

"We just have to be held to, in fact, we are and should be held to a higher standard to do things the right way, we have to be looked upon the right way as well and it's incumbent upon us as individual judges to make sure that were not only making the right decisions but we should be a little transparent in regard to our lives as well," said Woodruff.

But there are plenty of other judges interested just in western Pennsylvania alone. Among democrats, Woodruff, as well as superior judges David Wecht and Christine Donahue.

Among republicans, superior court judges John Bender, Lynn Allen and Jackie Shogan.

Before now, republicans held a majority of seats on the court. A court for which decisions on taxation, criminal law and even Marcellus shale drilling can last for decades.

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