Judge rules Philadelphia judicial candidate ineligible to run in May primary due to residency requirements.

A judicial candidate in Philadelphia, Mike Huff, has been disqualified from the upcoming May primary election due to ongoing disputes regarding his residency status. Huff is seeking a position on either the Court of Common Pleas or Municipal Court. He has expressed intentions to appeal the Commonwealth Court’s decision which ruled against him.

Huff, who hails from Philadelphia, spent two decades living in Bala Cynwyd alongside his family and is currently employed full-time as a public defender in Montgomery County. He has long desired to relocate back to Philadelphia, maintaining a law office on Race Street while engaging with local candidates and representing various community groups, including those involved in housing advocacy. In May 2022, Huff relocated to the Mount Airy neighborhood, a move he made prior to announcing his candidacy for judicial office.

The legitimacy of Huff’s residency in Philadelphia, however, has been challenged within the Philadelphia Democratic Party, particularly given that his wife, a Democratic committeeperson, continues to reside in Bala Cynwyd, raising questions about the permanence of his move.

In a decision issued by Commonwealth Court Judge Lori A. Dumas, several factors were considered in assessing Huff’s residency, including the notably low amounts on his utility bills, the location of his family, and other ties to his previous home. Judge Dumas noted that Huff failed to demonstrate that his family intended to make Philadelphia their principal home indefinitely, which played a significant role in her ruling to disqualify him from the ballot.

Huff previously appealed an initial ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which indicated that the residency issue required a more thorough examination of various factors, including where he sleeps and the nature of his lease arrangements. Yet, Dumas reiterated her concerns about Huff’s claims during a recent residency hearing, arguing that his minimal utility expenditures and connections to Bala Cynwyd suggested an absence of genuine residency in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Democratic Party has supported the residency challenge, emphasizing the importance of protecting the integrity of local candidates. While Huff has maintained that he is a qualified attorney for the position he seeks, party chairman Bob Brady has previously stated that Huff is better suited as a candidate for Montgomery County.

The appeal further complicates the logistical aspects of the upcoming election. City Commissioners recently finalized the list of candidates for mail-in ballots, adhering to statutory deadlines despite the unresolved legal situation surrounding Huff’s candidacy. The resolution of Huff’s residency issue remains critical, as ballots are set to be mailed in the coming days, leaving voters uncertain about whether his name will ultimately appear on the ballot alongside other candidates.

As the situation evolves, it is clear that the residency dispute will play a significant role in shaping the electoral landscape this May. Media News Source suggests that the outcomes of these legal challenges may have broader implications for future judicial candidates in Philadelphia.