Christine Donohue
Democrat | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile
Proven Activist
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Christine Donohue
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2025
Election
PA General School Boards, Judicial & Municipal Races
Race
Supreme Court (retention of Donohue)
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (2)
Emily's List; Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania
OTHER (2)
Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police FOP; Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals PASNAP
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
LGBTQ Groups (2025); Local, County, and District Democratic Organizations (2025); American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2015); Democrat Women Organizations (2015); PAC 1742 (2015)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (26)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2025); American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2015); American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2015); American Federation of Teachers (2015); Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculty (2015)
OTHER INFORMATION
Justice Donohue wrote, “the Pennsylvania Constitution secures the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy.” And that “includes a right to decide whether to have an abortion or to carry a pregnancy to term.” (berksdems.org)
In Allegheny Reprod. Health v. PA DHS (2024), Justice Donohue authored the majority opinion, holding that Pennsylvania's Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and Constitution protect a right to abortion, that excluding abortion from coverage was sex-based discrimination, and that strict scrutiny must be applied to such exclusion, leading the Court to overrule prior case, Fischer, and remand this case for further review.
For a more detailed summary, see case summary.
In Int. of K.T. (2023), Justice Donohue joined the majority opinion which said the lower courts used the wrong standard when deciding to end a mother’s parental rights and remanded (sent back) the case back to for reconsideration by the lower court.
For a more detailed summary, see case summary
In Pennsylvania v. Barr (2021), Justice Donohue joined the majority holding that under Pennsylvania's Medicaid Act, the smell of marijuana alone cannot justify a warrantless vehicle search.
For a more detailed summary, see case summary.
In Pennsylvania Democratic Party v. Boockvar (2020). the majority considered statewide mail-in voting rules for 2020 election. The majority held that drop boxes and satellite offices were allowed, ballots could be counted if recieved three days late because of COVID-19, ballots without a secrecy envelope could be rejected, and poll watchers had to live in the county. Justice Donohue joined the majority on all issues, except regarding the three-day extension, saying it went beyond the legislature's intent.
For a more detailed summary, see case summary.
In Commonwealth v. Alexander (2020), Philadelphia police searched the defendant's car without a warrant after smelling marijuana and found heroin. Justice Donohue authored the majority, which overruled Commonwealth v. Gary and said that under the Pennsylvania Constitution, warrantless vehicle searches require probable cause and exigent circumstances (urgent reason), giving stronger privacy protection than the federal standard for warrantless vehicles searches.
For more details, see case summary.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain.
Did not answer
I support a right to accelerate ending a human life.
Did not answer
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Did not answer
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
The right to bear arms is fundamental and must be protected.
Did not answer
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
Did not answer
How should the court address public health and individual freedoms in the time of a public health emergency?
Did not answer
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Did not answer
Is there a separation of church and state in the Constitution? Please explain.
Did not answer
Should courts address threats to religious liberty in the United States? If so, how?
Did not answer
Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain.
Did not answer
Was Bostock v. Clayton County rightly decided under the law? Please explain.
Did not answer
I agree that “the custody, care and nurture of the child reside first in the parents, whose primary function and freedom include preparation for obligations the state can neither supply nor hinder.” (Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65-66 (2000); quoting Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166 (1944).
Did not answer
What should a judge do when legislative texts and court precedents dictate different results?
Did not answer
When should a judge overturn past court decisions?
Did not answer
When, if ever, should a judge take popular opinion or the social views of the majority into consideration?
Did not answer
Do you believe the meaning of the Constitution changes over time, absent changes through the amendment process of Article V?
Did not answer
What do you believe is the single most important quality a judge should possess?
Did not answer
If you are an incumbent judge, describe a recent instance in which you acted to preserve your judicial independence. If you are an aspiring judge, how do you plan to remain independent if elected to the bench?
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
What, if any, church or organizations do you belong to?
Did not answer
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
Would you describe your judicial philosophy as originalist, living constitutionalist, or something else? Please explain.
Did not answer
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
What is your view of parental rights regarding the upbringing of children, specifically education and sexual "identity"?
Did not answer
I support "gender identity" as a specially protected class. Please explain.
Did not answer
What do you believe to be true about the human condition?
Did not answer
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Did not answer
