News

October 8, 2009

Superior Court hopeful campaigns in W-B

Teresa Sarmina has been a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge for 11 years.

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – Teresa Sarmina, one of nine people seeking to fill four seats on the state’s Superior Court, campaigned in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

The Democrat, a former senior deputy attorney general and assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, has served as a judge in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for 11 years.

For most of her career she has handled criminal cases, but the 56-year-old is not daunted in having to hear civil cases as well, if elected. Superior Court judges hear civil and criminal appeals from county level courts across the state.

“The basics are still the basics. You are still looking at a record. You are bound by the record and the issues the attorneys are raising, and you are studying up on the issues,” she said during an exclusive interview.

The court system is the branch where all controversial issues are resolved, she said, adding she feels she has the experience and exposure to bring a broad perspective to the court.

“I really feel I have a good ear, a good mind and that I can participate and making sure people have a fair hearing. A fair review of their appeals now is going to be the next step I am hoping to move onto,” she said.

Sarmina is the first Latino to run for a statewide elected office, according to Norman Bristol Colon, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.

Sarmina attended the University of Chicago, earning a degree in social service administration. She later attended the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., full-time as she worked full-time as a legislative assistant.

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