DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD -The death of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Max Baer, months before his retirement, was confirmed by the court on Saturday. He was 74. According to a news release issued by the court, Baer passed away in his sleep at his home in the Pittsburgh area. Without specifying what caused his death, the court lamented its "tremendous loss for the court and all of Pennsylvania."
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According to the court, Justice Debra Todd has been on the bench longer than any other justice, making her the new chief justice. A court spokesperson has confirmed that she is the first female chief justice in the history of the commonwealth.
In a press release, Todd praised Baer, saying, "Chief Justice Baer was an influential and intellectual jurist whose unwavering focus was on administering fair and balanced justice." He worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our nation's youngest and neediest citizens. After the passing of a "respected and esteemed jurist with decades of service to our courts and our commonwealth," Governor Tom Wolf issued an executive order to lower flags at all commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds.
At long last, Governor Tom Wolf shared his condolences with Baer's loved ones, saying:
Incredibly shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Chief Justice Baer. He had served our courts and nation for many years and was universally admired for his judicial acumen and integrity. Wolf remarked, "I appreciate his service and leadership on the Supreme Court." Frances and I offer our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on his passing.
In addition, per a press release, Governor Wolf has ordered that the Commonwealth flag be flown at half-staff immediately at all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds. In 2021, Baer was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a position he held until 2022. At the end of the year, Baer would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and would have been required to retire.
how he could explain his actions
Mr. Baer was described as a "consummate gentleman" and a "dear friend" by Chief Justice Emeritus Thomas Saylor. They had just spoken on Friday, and Mr. Baer had mentioned his excitement about retirement so that he could spend more time with his grandchildren.
When he became chief justice, "he was very conscious of continuing to foster a spirit of collegiality among the justices," Mr. Saylor said. And to ensure, in the end, that the court would remain a very collegial and respectful one, regardless of any disagreements that may have arisen over individual cases. That, too, will be a part of his legacy, I believe.
During his time on the state high court, Mr. Saylor (who will retire in 2021) noted that Mr. Baer kept strong ties to Pittsburgh. Both the Pitt Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers football teams had season tickets in his possession.
In Mr. Saylor's words, "I was in Pittsburgh three weeks ago and went with him to the West Virginia game." This evening was fantastic. That I was able to spend time with him recently is a tremendous blessing. Before Mr. Baer's time on the bench, Allegheny County Common Pleas Court President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark said positions on family court were seen as places where "as soon as you could get out, you got out
Encouraging, principled, and realistic
Over the course of his 19 years on the bench, Mr. Baer earned a reputation for his principled but pragmatic approach to the most pressing cases. As one of the courts to do so in 2018 as states worked to undo decades of partisan remapping, he voted in favour of the decision that found the state's congressional maps to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
Mr. Baer, however, had issues with the court's decision and wrote both a concurring and a dissenting opinion. He thought it was bad timing for the court to invalidate the state's congressional maps right before an election and suggested waiting until 2020.
In 2020, Mr. Baer penned the majority opinion for the court that authorised the use of ballot drop boxes and mobile polling locations. The deadline for mailing in votes was also extended by the court's decision to account for postal service delays.
Content Source
- https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/reactions-pour-in-after-the-sudden-passing-of-pa-supreme-court-chief-justice-max-baer/
- https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/max-baer-pennsylvania-supreme-courts-chief-justice-dies-90827439
- post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2022/10/01/max-baer-pennsylvania-supreme-court-dies/stories/202210010040
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