Glatfelter Institute releases York County Bar Association Evaluation Results

York College of Pennsylvania’s Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy conducted a poll of York County Bar Association members on the candidate running for the one judicial vacancy on the Court of Common Pleas in York County. The Bar Association’s 470 members were given an opportunity to evaluate the candidate, with the evaluation focused primarily on professional competence, judicial temperament, and integrity. 

The judicial evaluation poll is a long-standing community service activity of the York County Bar Association. The poll is undertaken as a public service and not for the purpose of endorsing any specific candidate or any political party; it is not a popularity poll. The results are offered as a resource to the public in determining which candidates are most qualified to serve as judges on the York County Court of Common Pleas.

In past polls, members of the York County Bar Association were asked to provide a single rating based on three categories for each of the candidates.

Revised in 2021, the Judicial Candidate Evaluation Poll asks members of the York County Bar Association to rate each candidate on specific qualities. Members rated the candidate as “Highly Qualified,” “Qualified,” “Not Presently Qualified,” or “No Opinion.”

A rating of “Highly Qualified” equates to 5 points. A ranking of “Qualified” equates to 3 points. A ranking of “Not Presently Qualified” equates to 1 point. A ranking of “No Opinion” equates to 0 points.

For a candidate to be rated as “Highly Qualified,” they must receive a minimum of 86 points. For a candidate to rated “Qualified,” they must receive between 60-85 points. For a candidate to be rated as “Not Presently Qualified,” they must receive less than 60 points. The final ratings consist of the average of the total points received divided by the number of respondents.

The York County Bar Association and its members serve in the unique role of judicial officers in the community. For anyone who participates in any proceedings in the local legal system, whether as a party or a witness, and whether the case involves a civil, domestic, or criminal matter, nothing matters more than the opportunity to be heard before a fair, impartial, and qualified judge. The reputation the court system and its judges enjoy in the impartial administration of justice and application of the law contributes to the overall stability and security of the public and provides certainty, stability, and clarity to personal and commercial relationships. 

206 members participated in the poll, which equates to a 44% response rate. The results, tabulated and released on May 10, 2023, are as follows:

Overall Results – Average Score Out of 100 Points

Kelley Margetas

69 – Qualified

The following tables provide detailed results of the specific qualities assessed by members of the York County Bar Association.