Nov 3, 2009 2:51 pm US/Eastern
Pennsylvania Voters Hit The Polls
PHILADELPHIA (CBS3/AP) ―
Pennsylvania voters will be awarding a hotly contested open seat on the state Supreme Court and filling a half-dozen vacancies on the Superior and Commonwealth courts.
Polls open statewide at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The Election Day showdown between Republican Joan Orie Melvin and Democrat Jack Panella for the state's highest court follows a campaign that generated more than $3 million in contributions.
Both candidates are sitting judges on the Superior Court— Panella in Bethlehem and Melvin in Pittsburgh.
Nine judges and lawyers are competing for four open seats on the Superior Court, which handles most appeals from criminal and civil cases in county courts.
Four candidates are also vying for two openings on the Commonwealth Court, which hears lawsuits filed against state agencies and appeals of decisions by most state agencies.
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Voters in Philadelphia will be electing a new District Attorney. Two former Assistant District Attorneys, Democrat Seth Williams and Republican Michael Untermeyer, are vying for the position held by Lynne Abraham for the past 18 years.
The City Controller's office is also on the ballot as incumbent Alan Butkovitz is facing a challenge from former Federal Auditor Al Schmidt.
An initial appeal to keep the polls open longer in light of the SEPTA strike has been denied. At this time, the polls close at 8 p.m.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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