In this race for a seat on the highest court in Pennsylvania, former Pittsburgh Steeler Dwayne Woodruff faces off against Republican Justice Sallie Mundy of Tioga County. Mundy was appointed to the seat last year by Gov. Tom Wolf after Republican Justice Michael Eakin resigned as part of the state’s porn-email scandal. However, Wolf is supporting Woodruff for the full-term seat. Thus far, Mundy has outspent Woodruff in a race that has garnered little attention, even though Supreme Court judges preside over some of the most important issues in the commonwealth.
Sallie Mundy
Bio: Elected to Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2009. Formerly practiced law at firms in Centre County and Philadelphia; has served as volunteer public defender for Tioga County. Obtained her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She is also part-owner of a small cattle farm in Tioga County.
Record: In 2016, she was nominated to fill a Supreme Court vacancy and was unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. While Mundy says she’s not your “typical Republican,” she has emphasized that she won’t bring politics into the courtroom and says the court’s responsibility is to uphold the Constitution. Mundy was “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Friends and Supporters: Endorsed by PA State Troopers Association, PA Building and Trades Council, Professional Fire Fighters Local 302, Fraternal Order of Police Local Lodge 1, PA Pro Life Association, Firearm Owners Against Crime, The PA Professional Fire Fighters Association and NRA Political Victory Fund.
Dwayne Woodruff
Bio: Woodruff is a judge in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, where he has worked mostly in the Family Court Division since 2005. He played 12 seasons with the Steelers while obtaining his law degree from Duquesne University. He practiced law with the firm Meyer Darragh before becoming a founding partner of Woodruff & Flaherty.
Record: Served on the board of the National Commission of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Also served on the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, working to improve local courts after the Luzerne County “kids-for-cash” scandal. Also co-chairs the National Campaign to Stop Violence’s “Do the Write Thing Challenge,” targeting the impact of violence on middle-school students. Woodruff was “recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Friends and Supporters: Endorsed by the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee, Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s Executive Council, PA Conference of Teamsters, PA National Organization for Women, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club and Dauphin County Democrats.
