The often-contested, never-beaten State Rep. Rosita Youngblood may be a little more vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2010. Heard in the Hall reports that Youngblood and Carol Campbell are quits, following a dispute over $10K in cash Campbell routed to Youngblood.

The money was intended to pay Youngblood's poll workers on election day. Campbell and her ally Joyce Eubanks promised these workers $100; Youngblood paid them each $75. What's more, Youngblood was in a room of workers when Eubanks promised them $100, but did nothing to correct or contradict her.

“I was there to hear it, but if you have a roomful of people, it would be a riot if you want to contradict what was stated,” Youngblood said. That left some workers disappointed when they came to collect their checks election night...

“I just hope she enjoys what we did for her while it lasts,” Campbell said. “Because two years comes around mighty fast.”

Thanks for spearheading this Karen, and yea Joyce! -Ray

At our chapter meeting this Monday, Philadelphia NOW voted to send a letter to Governor Rendell urging him to appoint Joyce Eubanks to the Municipal Court vacancy which currently exists in Philadelphia.

We enthusiastically endorsed Joyce Eubanks when she ran for a judicial slot last year. Click "read more" below to see the letter written on behalf of the chapter. Joyce would also welcome additional letters from individual supporters.

Last May, we endorsed Joyce Eubanks for Judge, and said this:

You don’t spend 22 years at the Philly Defender's Office because you want to make it a ton of money. You do it, sacrificing all kinds of salary along the way, because you believe that everyone deserves a chance to have their story told. That, in a nutshell, is why we desperately need Joyce Eubanks in Municipal Court.

She certainly has the progressive credentials: Besides teaching at Temple for ten years, she is a longstanding member of one progressive organization after another- from the ACLU, to NOW, to the NAACP, to Philly’s own Neighborhood Networks, just to name a couple. When we earlier wrote our post on judges, I said we needed more judges in Municipal Court (where most poor people represent themselves) who understand that people who are not aware of their rights can not assert their rights. Joyce is that kind of person.

And, from those who have seen her up close (who, cough, cough, may want to chime in), Joyce is just a flat out good lawyer.

Despite losing the Dem primary, Joyce is still on the ballot, as a Republican. (Judges many times run as both; and, if there is one place that a party should not be involved...)

Anyway, tomorrow, I am voting for Joyce for Common Pleas Court, and I encourage you to do the same.