Could Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler be picked for Supreme Court vacancy?
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
That’s the question that insiders through Bucks County and Harrisburg were asking Thursday.
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CapitolWire.com reported that Gov. Tom Corbett is eying Heckler and state attorney Jim Schultz to fill the open spot on the top court. The seat was opened earlier in the week when Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery retired after the “pornogate” scandal.
In a phone interview with LevittownNow.com on Friday morning, Heckler said he would be interested in filling the vacancy if he was nominated. He added that he has not been asked by the governor.
“I have read the report and that all I know,” he said. “No calls at all.”
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Heckler, who has served as district attorney since 2010, said he was “flattered” to be mentioned for the seat.
PoliticsPA.com notes both men could be contenders because Chief Justice Ron Castille will be retiring soon.
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Heckler, a Republican, said he would only agree to serve until an election to fill the seat is held, adding that he has no more plans to run for political office.
Heckler’s county bio:
Mr. Heckler graduated Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bucks County from 1972 to 1979, after which he acted as advisor and educator to all of Pennsylvania’s District Attorneys for the next seven years.
Mr. Heckler then served eleven years in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, leaving the Senate in 1997 upon being elected Judge of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. He served as President Judge of the Court from 2004 through 2008. He left the Bench and was elected Bucks County District Attorney, commencing January 2010.
There could be some problems: If Corbett appointed Heckler before the end of the up-for-reelection governor’s first term, would the legislature vote to fill any vacancies before the end of this year? What would happen if Corbett didn’t win? Would Democrat Tom Wolf nominate a Republican?
The 67-year-old district attorney said he believes his name is being tossed around because he was known to work with members of both parties during his time as a state senator. In recent years, he’s also chaired the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection, which gained nationwide press following the Jerry Sandusky case.
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This isn’t the first time Heckler’s name was floated around in Harrisburg. There have been previous rumors that Heckler might be a nice fit in Harrisburg.
As for who would lead the district attorney’s office if Heckler joins the state’s top court…
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“Matt Weintraub would be an appropriate choice,” he said.
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