Democrats swept a slate of races for Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday, with the party's endorsed candidates winning all eight seats up for election.

Once sworn in next year, the new judges will be tasked with handling a wide range of cases, including adult and juvenile criminal prosecutions, major civil lawsuits, family law disputes like divorce and child custody, and Orphan's Court matters such as estates and adoptions. It is the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, where most significant legal matters are heard.

The salary for a Common Pleas Court judge is $227,411 annually.

Pennsylvania uses partisan elections to initially select judges, and more than 20 candidates fought for a slot on the ballot in the Democratic primary this year. Three of them — former public

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