This year's Common Pleas Court election poses an unusual question: Why should voters cast their ballot in favor of a candidate who isn't even asking them to do it?

Because that candidate is highly qualified and ready for the bench and two of his competitors are not.

Five judges will be elected to 10-year terms on the Allegheny County bench next month, and the primary election in May winnowed the list of contenders from 16 to seven. Three of the surviving candidates are virtual shoo-ins because they won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. And that's good news, because they all are qualified for judgeships.

They are among the five endorsed by the Post-Gazette:

• Susan Evashavik DiLucente, 46, of Forest Hills has been a magisterial district judge since 2002.

• Phil Ignelzi, 53, of McCandless is a highly regarded attorney whose practice is dominated by medical malpractice cases, but he also has experience in criminal prosecutions and defense work.

• Arnie Klein, 48, of Upper St. Clair, a trial attorney for 22 years, has practiced in all three divisions of Common Pleas Court as well as in federal court.

Ms. Evashavik DiLucente and Mr. Klein both are recommended by the county bar association, and Mr. Ignelzi is rated as highly recommended. Two other candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot share that distinction, the best rating the bar association gives.

• Joe Williams, 57, of Penn Hills is the only contender who already is serving as a Common Pleas judge. He was appointed to a vacancy based on his 23-year career as a criminal defense attorney respected for his skills and demeanor. He captured the Democratic nomination, which gives him a significant edge for the fourth seat, and he deserves it.

• Alex Bicket, 52, of Mt. Lebanon has much trial experience in commercial and insurance cases, but winning only the Republican nomination leaves him at a disadvantage despite his stellar reputation. Even the backing of his popular friend, former Steeler Rocky Bleier, didn't win him the Democratic nomination that has proved to be all-but-essential for victory in the fall.

For that reason, he and Michele Zappala Peck decided not to campaign in this round, hoping instead that the party faithful will look favorably on possible runs in the future. In Ms. Peck's case, that is no loss to the public, as she was rated not yet ready for the bench by the bar association.

The unflattering rating of "not recommended at this time" also was applied to longtime state lawmaker Don Walko, who has represented the city's North Side in the Pennsylvania House for 14 years. Armed with the Democratic nomination, though, he is favored to win, especially with Mr. Bicket and Ms. Peck -- sister of District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. -- out of the way.

Nonetheless, the Post-Gazette believes that Allegheny County voters would be better served if they vote for Mr. Bicket. He may not be advertising or planting yard signs, but he would still make a better judge.

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