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Jacqueline O. Shogan, an attorney with Thorp Reed & Armstrong in Pittsburgh, became the third and final Republican candidate for state Superior Court after the Republican State Committee nominated her in a close vote at its annual fall meeting.
The third vacancy on the Superior Court was created when Judge Michael Joyce of Erie announced that he wouldn't seek re-election after federal officials charged him with mail fraud.
Shogan beat out state Sen. Jane Earll from Erie for the final spot on the ballot.
"It was close, and all of the other candidates were very well-qualified," Shogan said. "I think the Republicans would have been very happy with any decision."
Shogan, who has been running for Superior Court for two years, said she felt relieved when she was nominated at the meeting, held earlier this month.
"I was pleased and obviously very honored to be representing the Republican Party for this seat," she said.
Shogan joins fellow Republican nominees Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Cheryl Allen and Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Bratton who won nominations in the May primary.
"I am proud to add Jackie Shogan to our statewide judicial ticket, and I am confident that all our party's judicial candidates will be victorious this November," said Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. in a statement. "Jackie Shogan is a great candidate and will be even a better Superior Court Judge. I am glad that our grassroots volunteers decided, by a roll call vote, who the best candidate was to fill our position on the ballot."
Shogan, who was a nurse for 12 years before she became an attorney, specializes in civil litigation, administrative law and health law.
"I think nurses tend to make good jurists because they make good listeners," she said. "Nurses are advocates for their patients and I think of myself as an advocate for the system of justice. That would be part of my judicial temperament."
Because she had a longstanding interest in public policy and the legal system, Shogan returned to school to obtain her law degree at Duke University School of Law. After obtaining her law degree, Shogan practiced for eight years, including four years as an attorney on the staff of Judge Maurice Cohill of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
It was her time with the U.S. District Court that confirmed her interest in pursuing a judicial position.
"I worked closely with Judge Cohill and think very highly of him," she said. "He brings much wisdom to the bench along with much compassion."
During this time, she said she gained extensive experience with both civil and criminal proceedings. She returned to private practice at the end of 2001. Shogan also serves as an arbitrator and mediator, and teaches appellate practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
"I think I have the right legal credentials to get into public service in terms of what you typically look for in new judges and what people look for in terms of legal abilities and legal experiences," she said. "I enjoy the complexity and diversity of a judicial seat in a court like Superior Court."
Three seats are open on the Superior Court in the Nov. 6 election. The Democratic side of the ballot includes Allegheny County Judge Ron Folino, Pittsburgh attorney Christine Donahue and Philadelphia Judge John M. Younge.
The top three vote-getters among these six candidates will win a seat.
