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Daniel D. McCaffery (born July 20, 1964)[1][2] is an American lawyer who serves as a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court since 2024. He is a former judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, serving from 2020 to 2024. He defeated Republican Carolyn Carluccio in the 2023 Pennsylvania Supreme Court election, winning with 53% of the vote.
Daniel McCaffery | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Max Baer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 20, 1964 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Seamus McCaffery (brother) |
| Education | Temple University (BA, JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 1st Cavalry Division |
After graduating from Father Judge High School in 1982, McCaffery joined the United States Army and served with the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.[3] He attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School.[3] After being honorably discharged from active duty, he served three more years in the Army Reserve.[3] He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Temple University in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law in 1991.[1][4]
From 1991 to 1997, McCaffery was an assistant district attorney for Philadelphia County. From 1997 to 2014, he was a shareholder with Friedman, Schuman P.C. From 2014 to 2019, he was a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.[1] In 2019, he was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.[4][5]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
In November 2022, McCaffery announced his candidacy for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court left vacant by the death of fellow Democrat Max Baer.[6] He was endorsed by the state Democratic Party in February 2023,[7] and won the May 2023 primary against fellow Superior Court Judge Deborah Kunselman with 60% of the vote.[8] He went on to face the Republican nominee, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Carluccio, in the general election.[9]
Abortion was the central theme of the general election.[10] Even though candidates in judicial elections typically avoid commenting on specific issues, McCaffery explicitly campaigned on protecting the right to an abortion.[11][12] Carluccio declined to take a public position on the issue, but did say she would uphold Pennsylvania's law allowing abortion until 24 weeks after conception.[13] However, she was endorsed by the anti-abortion Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, and the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania supported her because she called herself "pro-life".[13]
Over $22 million was spent during the campaign, making the election one of the most expensive Supreme Court elections in the Commonwealth's history.[14] Of that total, McCaffery and his allies spent over $13 million,[12] primarily funded by "the state Democratic Party, labor unions, and associations representing trial attorneys."[15]
On November 7, 2023, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with 53% of the vote;[16] McCaffery's support for abortion rights has been credited as a major factor in his victory.[17][18]
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