DV Journal

Two women are vying to be the GOP’s nominee for Superior Court judge. Superior Court is an appellate court that hears criminal and civil appeals and appeals involving children and families.

Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft serves as the president judge for the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. Maria C. Battista is a lawyer with a wide range of experience in various areas of the law. Both candidates running in the May 20 primary spoke with DV Journal.

Wheatcraft was an assistant district attorney in Chester County before she was elected to the bench 13 years ago.

“I am tough on crime in that I will impose harsh sentences, if necessary, on violent offenders. But I also am a big proponent of our treatment courts, which divert nonviolent offenders out of jail and into treatment,” said Wheatcraft. “I’ve been doing that work for a long time, and was even doing that work in the district attorney’s office. I just finished my first term as president of the statewide treatment court association.”

Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft

“I’m also a big fan of reuniting families and stopping the revolving door of the justice system,” said Wheatcraft. The treatment courts “get to the root” of what causes people to commit crimes, whether it’s addiction or mental illness, she said.

“I’m always respectful,” said Wheatcraft. “I’ve gotten letters from people in prison who thanked me for being the first judge they’ve dealt with who was respectful and treated them like human beings.”

Battista ran for Superior Court in 2023.  She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania. After graduating from Ohio Northern University Law School, she was in a private general practice firm doing family law, real estate, including oil and gas, estates, and more.

Battista was also a former assistant DA, serving in two counties, Venango and Franklin.

She also served under Gov. Tom Corbett (R) in the Department of Health and oversaw home care, hospices, birth centers, and Drug and Cosmetics Act cases.

“I worked in joint jurisdiction with the attorney general,” said Battista. She then became a hearing examiner for the Department of State.

“My background is very diverse and covers many types of law that the Superior Court (handles),” she said. “I have five degrees,” she said. These two undergraduate degrees, a master’s degree in education administration from Westminster College, and a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh.

She’s taught college-level communications and criminal justice classes.

Her experience in various fields give her “a better understanding when they are appealed to the Superior Court,” said Battista. “I really think I bring a unique perspective.”

Maria Battista

She also worked as a military lawyer for the Department of Defense but had to step down to run for office. She now works as an attorney at the Judge Group.

Wheatcraft has handled civil, family, and dependency court cases as a judge. She is often asked to give presentations by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, the State Trial Court Conferences, colleges, law schools, bar associations, and continuing legal education (CLE) events.

Wheatcraft is past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Trial Court Professionals and a current executive board member.

Wheatcraft garnered the endorsement of the state GOP. Her undergraduate degree is from Penn State, and her law degree is from the University of New Hampshire Law School. She also teaches a one-week class to train new judges on how to be judges.

Along with scuba diving, Wheatcraft volunteers with Canine Partners for Life, fostering and training service dogs. She was instrumental in bringing therapy dogs to courthouses.

In 2014, “I first wanted to bring a dog into the courthouse,” se said. “I was working with kids a lot, kids that were involved in the welfare system, dependency court, and kids in family court and custody litigation.” She read that in Florida, therapy dogs were helping children cope with being in court, a cold, formal, and scary place for children. “I asked my president judge then, and it was a pretty solid ‘no.’

“I kind of did an end run and I started volunteering at Canine Partners for Life and raising service dogs,” she said. “I started taking service dogs in training to our judges’ conferences every July. So judges all around the commonwealth got used to seeing them and learned how good they are. And now, there are dogs all over the commonwealth in courthouses, and I’m proud of that.”

Battista enjoys biking, kayaking, hiking, skiing, tennis, and playing the piano when she’s not working or campaigning.

Battista became well-known to Republican activists across the state during her earlier run for Superior Court judge. On Oct. 22, 2023, two weeks before the November election, Battista was putting up a yard sign on a Sunday night and was struck by a car and seriously injured. She had a concussion, a broken collarbone, and a fractured hip.

“I went back on the campaign trail,” said Battista. “Even though I was in pain.”

Earlier on the day of the accident, she had spoken at a church, and the congregation prayed for her, specifically asking God to ensure she had safe travels.

“I honestly believe I had a hedge of protection, that I didn’t get killed,” said Battista. “And I did not become incapacitated. I believe there was divine intervention, like (President) Trump being shot in the ear.”

“I do believe I’m supposed to be a judge,” she said. “I’m going to continue to work hard and let the people decide the outcome.”

On the Democratic ballot, former Washington County state representative and now Common Pleas Judge Brandon Neuman is running unopposed.  The Pennsylvania Bar Association “highly recommended” both Wheatcraft and Neuman.