Fact-Check Summary
The post accurately states that Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht, all Democrats, are up for 10-year retention votes. Its further claims, however, are largely misleading. The assertion that these justices unlawfully gerrymandered congressional maps is wholly false—they overturned a gerrymander to create fairer maps. Attributing COVID era closures to the justices is misleading; they reviewed the Governor’s orders, not authored them. Allegations that the justices “let sex offenders out of prison” or “interfered” in the 2020 election significantly distort nuanced judicial actions and rulings, often omitting vital legal context and checks/balances between government branches.
Belief Alignment Analysis
This post uses highly partisan, inflammatory language that undermines public faith in judicial institutions. Rather than encouraging civil, evidence-based debate, it employs loaded labels like “Radical Democrat” and “woke Judges,” resorting to vilification rather than substantive critique. It distorts the courts’ role in redistricting, pandemic policy review, and election law, fostering distrust and division. This approach is inconsistent with the norms of democratic inclusion, fairness, truthfulness, and reasoned discussion.
Opinion
While voters are entitled to question judicial performance, this post relies on dramatic exaggeration rather than the factual record. It fails to promote constructive civic participation and instead inflames partisan anxieties through overstatement and mischaracterization, eroding essential respect for an independent judiciary.
TLDR
The post is accurate in naming the justices and the upcoming retention vote but egregiously misrepresents their decisions and role. Its accusations of unlawful gerrymandering, COVID “lockdowns,” criminal leniency, and election interference are all misleading, exaggerated, or false. The overall framing is highly partisan and divisive.
Claim: “Radical Democrat” justices gerrymandered Congressional districts, caused business/church closures during COVID, released sex offenders, routinely sided with Biden, interfered in the 2020 election, and led to “corrupt impeachments.”
Fact: Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht are up for retention and are Democrats. They struck down a gerrymandered map for fair elections, upheld Governor-ordered COVID restrictions, and made nuanced rulings on criminal and election law in line with established jurisprudence. Accusations of direct misconduct or unlawful actions are false or misleading.
Opinion: The post distorts events with inflammatory and divisive rhetoric, contributing to distrust in core democratic institutions rather than fostering informed public debate.
TruthScore: 2
True: Justices’ names, party affiliation, and retention vote date.
Hyperbole: References to “Radical Democrat,” “woke Judges,” connections to impeachments, and suggestions of wrongful intent in judicial actions.
Lies: Claims of unlawful gerrymandering by the court, sex offender releases, and willful election interference.