Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice leaves Democratic Party over antisemitism concerns
WGAL • • nation
Key Points:
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht announced he has left the Democratic Party and is now unaffiliated, citing concerns over increasing tolerance of antisemitism within the party.
- Wecht emphasized his judicial independence and expressed alarm at the rise of anti-Jewish hatred on both the political right and left, noting that such hatred has moved from the fringe into the mainstream.
- He referenced his personal connection to the Jewish community, including his marriage at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Congregation, the site of a tragic antisemitic massacre, and criticized the Democratic Party for minimizing and even coddling antisemitic actions and rhetoric.
- Wecht reaffirmed his commitment to impartial justice and called on all Americans to oppose and resist antisemitism before it undermines the nation's foundational values and freedoms.
- The justice was part of a trio of Democrats who survived a contentious 2023 retention race, securing another 10-year term on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.