HARRISBURG - Democrats and Republicans took one victory each in races for two openings on state appellate courts.
Democrat David Wecht of Pittsburgh beat Republican Vic Stabile, a lawyer from Harrisburg, for a seat on the 15-member Superior Court.
Republican Anne Covey defeated Democrat Kathryn Boockvar in the closer race for one of nine seats on Commonwealth Court. Both are Bucks County lawyers.
Voters also gave Justice J. Michael Eakin a second 10-year term on the Supreme Court.
The judicial races were the only statewide contests, with light turnout reported.
Covey, 51, of Upper Makefield, is an employment-law expert who has served on the state Labor Relations Board since 2002. Commonwealth Court hears challenges to state laws and appeals of decisions by state agencies.
Wecht, 49, son of the celebrated forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, had the best-financed campaign, raising $500,000, more than two-thirds from Philadelphia trial lawyers.
Wecht has been a trial judge in Pittsburgh since 2003 and previously served as Allegheny County register of wills and clerk of Orphans' Court.
"I'm the only judge who ran, so I can hit the ground running," Wecht said Tuesday night. "And I was the only candidate who came highly recommended by the bar association, so I hope that had something to do with voters' confidence in me."
Superior Court hears appeals of criminal and civil cases from the county courts, as well as appeals on matters involving children and families.
Eakin, 62, faced no opponent in his retention race, but raised campaign cash as if he did, bringing in $526,000 - mostly from fellow Republicans and more than any other judicial candidate at any level, according to the Associated Press.
Eakin also aired television ads in the last week seeking to inoculate himself against any last-minute challenge - and mindful of 2006, when Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro became the first appellate judge to lose a retention race amid voter outrage over a legislative pay raise that also increased judges' pay.
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com, or follow her on Twitter @inkyamy.
