The Philadelphia Bar Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention is one of the few organizations that conducts a substantive review of each candidate that runs for judge of a Philadelphia Court. The commission thoroughly reviews each candidate on criteria such as legal ability, experience, temperament, and integrity.

The Philadelphia Bar Association rates judicial candidates with the following three evaluations: Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended. Because of the thoroughness of these evaluations, many groups who offer endorsements to judicial candidates use the Bar's Association's ratings as a baseline, and will often refuse to endorse candidates who do are rated Not Recommended. For more information about the commission members, their process, and the criteria they use, check out their website by clicking here.