David Wecht Leaves Democratic Party, Citing Antisemitism Concerns

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice david wecht renounced his Democratic Party registration on Monday and said he will be an independent. In a news release, he said the change reflects his view that antisemitism inside the party has grown and been tolerated.

Wecht said he “can no longer abide” what he described as Jew-hatred in the party. He also said he is “confined to a judicial role” and that he maintains independence “at all times and in all respects,” adding that his voting registration now matches that stance.

Wecht’s Monday statement

In his release, Wecht said “Nazi tattoos, jihadist chants, intimidation and attacks at synagogues, and other hateful anti-Jewish invective and actions are minimized, ignored and even coddled.” He added: “Acquiescence to Jew-hatred is now disturbingly common among activists, leaders and even many elected officials in the Democratic Party.”

He also said, “That terror came from the right. Jew-hatred has always festered on the fringe of that sector” and that “in the years that have followed, that same hatred has grown on the left.”

David Wecht and the court

Wecht said he was married in 1998 at the Tree of Life synagogue, grew up in Squirrel Hill, and lives in Indiana Township. Before his career on the bench, he served for three years as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

He won his 10-year retention election in November, before the registration change. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court majority was 5-2 in favor of Democrats before Wecht changed his registration, but the change in party may not have any practical effect on his role as a justice.

Harrisburg next week

The court will be in session next week in Harrisburg, giving Wecht his first public setting after the change. He closed his statement with a line attributed to Shakespeare: “This above all: to thine own self be true.”