Carolyn Carluccio

Judge Carolyn Carluccio (R) was elected to the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in 2009.  Her current term ends in 2029. She sits "in the Criminal, Family and Civil Court Benches, and as an alternate Judge to Juvenile Court." Judge Carluccio was the first female to serve as President Judge. 

Prior she was Montgomery County's first female Chief Deputy Solicitor. Regarding her position as Chief Deputy Solicitor, she stated, "I was proud to be the first female Chief Public Defender in my county's history. . . .The position instilled in me a passion to ensure those with a diminished voice in our criminal justice system are heard." 

Judge Carluccio graduated from Widener University School of Law (formerly Delaware School of Law).

Pennsylvania Bar Association Rating: Highly Recommended

Judicial Philosophy 

• From Law.com: "... I will NOT be an activist judge. I will uphold the Constitution and apply the law as it is written." And: "Lady Justice is portrayed blind for a reason. Everyone that comes before the court should be treated fairly, respectfully and feel as though their voice was heard. There is no place for bias, for any reason, when applying the law."
• From campaign website: "Pennsylvanians want impartial and experienced judges to apply the law as written and not legislate from the bench."
• From "The Mercury" 11/30/2022 article on pottsmerc.com: "Pennsylvanians want their judges to read and apply the law . . . . They also want jurists who will bring experience, temperament, and impartiality to our Commonwealth's highest court."

Candidate Data Questionnaire:

• Question #33 "Why do you wish to become a Justice or Judge?"
  • Response: "I'm running for two reasons. First, I have a passion for the law. The American system of justice is exceptional as we are all equal under the law . . . Second, like all Pennsylvanians, I want a justice system that is fair and impartial . . . I hope to share my enthusiasm for the law, our constitution, and the rights of our citizens as a member of that great bench." 

From Inquirer Judicial Candidate Questionnaire:

• Question #3: "[H]ow do you plan to remain independent if elected to the bench?"
  • Response: "I came to learn the importance of judicial independence when I was chosen to represent the United States Attorney in Washington, DC, on ethics matters. If elected, I will render decisions on their own merits, free from political pressure or popular sentiment. All arguments will be conducted with both parties present and ex-parte communication will not be tolerated." 
• Question #5: "[i]f you believe that gender, racial, ethnic, class, or other forms of bias can infect the justice system, how will you work to keep your courtroom as bias-free as possible?" 
  • Response: "I will carry forward the practice I have always followed of fighting bias and discrimination, which is why I was chosen as a leader in the diversity committee. In my courtroom, everyone, regardless of race, class, gender, and ethnic background, will be treated fairly, professionally, and in accordance with the law."

Controversial Issues:

From MainLine Today Article:

• Officiated a same-sex marriage, stating, "It was the most emotional wedding I've done . . . . I was thrilled to be part of that."

From PA Family Voter Guide Survey:

• Declined to answer, “Do you agree with the US Supreme Court’s statement in Dobbs v. Jackson, 597 U.S.__ (2022), that ‘[l]ike the infamous decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, Roe [v. Wade] was also egregiously wrong and on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided.’” Carluccio stated, “I respectfully decline to answer this question. As a Common Pleas Judge and certainly as a Justice of the Supreme Court, it is vital that I remain impartial and unbiased with regard to issues that may come before me. While I believe that responding to this question would not cause me to be biased, it is reasonable to think that answering this question might be perceived as undermining my impartiality, and as a result, this might lead to disqualification under Rule 2.11 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. As Judge, it is my duty to decide cases and to avoid statements or actions that could knowingly put me in a situation that invites recusal or that casts any doubt upon my fairness and impartiality.”
• Declined to answer “Do you agree with the US Supreme Court’s statement in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65-66 (2000), and Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166 (1944), 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’?” Carluccio stated, “I respectfully decline to answer this question. As a Common Pleas Judge and certainly as a Justice of the Supreme Court, it is vital that I remain impartial and unbiased with regard to issues that may come before me. While I believe that responding to this question would not cause me to be biased, it is reasonable to think that answering this question might be perceived as undermining my impartiality, and as a result, this might lead to disqualification under Rule 2.11 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. As Judge, it is my duty to decide cases and to avoid statements or actions that could knowingly put me in a situation that invites recusal or that casts any doubt upon my fairness and impartiality.”

Candidate responded to the Spotlight PA's PBA questionnaire.

Carolyn Carluccio completed the PA Family Voter Survey.