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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Registered voters from both sides of the aisle will find the same two candidates on party ballots in Franklin County, Pa., in Tuesday’s primary election race for judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
Mary Beth Shank and Ian Brink both cross-filed and will seek to move forward to the fall municipal general-election ballot.
The judge position to be filled comes with the pending retirement of President Judge Carol Van Horn.
The 39th Judicial District also includes Fulton County, Pa., so voters in 12 precincts there will join with 75 in Franklin County to make up the vote tally.
If the candidates split the party nominations, both would appear on the November ballot. If a candidate wins both nominations, it would make for a clear path to the judge position, barring a write-in effort.
Shank will be listed first on both Republican and Democratic ballots in Franklin County.
The two judge candidates recently spoke at a forum hosted by the Franklin County Reagan Coalition and answered four predetermined questions, including an introduction and thoughts on their judicial philosophy.
A Chambersburg native, Shank works in the the civil and orphans’ court divisions of law, and currently serves as solicitor for Franklin County government.
“This has given me a diverse background,” she said. “I’ve practiced a broad, diverse area of law.”
Brink hails from Rochester, N.Y., and worked in Michigan before coming to the public defender’s office in Franklin County. He currently is an assistant district attorney.
“The courtroom is where I’ve been,” he said. “My entire background is not just criminal. It spans other things as well.”
When asked to comment on their observations of what judges do, Brink said he has been mentored by judges.
“If you have an idea to change something in the system that you think might help things out, they are open to listen,” he said. “They are not always going to take the advice, but often they’ll listen.”
“I’ve seen some of our judges become fairly aggressive with case management order up front. That makes sure attorneys’ feet are held to the fire,” Shank said. “Something that I see that I hope to emulate, and I think I would look for opportunities to emulate as a judge, is that balance of being tough, but, at the right time, looking for ways to show compassion.”
The candidates were asked about the cost of the judicial system.
“This does create a constant push and pull of interests between taxpayers’ interests and making sure that due process is upheld in our court system,” Shank said. “I understand that a fundamental tenet of our Constitution is due process. Judges don’t have control over the number of cases that come before them. The judge has the ultimate duty to uphold that right, that tenet of due process.”
She said she would welcome initiatives that would streamline cases, and create efficiencies and cost savings, both at the local and state levels.
Brink said he has developed streamlining to the court schedule that now is in practice. He sees areas for other efficiencies, including with the transport of prisoners to the courthouse when a case ends up getting continued.
“One thing we can’t make more of is time, and judicial time is limited,” he said. “It doesn’t just affect the judge, but everyone in the courtroom who has to stay there.”
The candidates also commented on why they are the most qualified to be the next judge in Franklin County.
Brink said he built his career through hard work, working in multiple jurisdictions and experiencing different judges in action.
“I started off as an assistant public defender, not known by anybody in this county,” he said. “I worked hard. I proved myself each and every day. And that work was appreciated by people in the district attorney’s office.
“I listened to people that went before me. What that taught me was that if I continue to work hard, people here appreciate it, and I continued to get promoted and moving in the direction which I’m in now. I worked hard to build that reputation.”
Shank said she has the broadest background and experience, “having worked on cases that matter to people.”
“We need judges on the bench that have backgrounds on these complex matters as well. They are serious matters that impact all of us, and I believe these matters are tough matters for our judges to decide,” she said. “I really feel I come to the bench with that broad background experience. I believe it’s the experience that complements the existing bench right now.
“I know this community, and I love this community, and I think it’s important for our judges to show that they have a heart for the community as well.”
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