Local Government TV

▼

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Jack Panella Weighing Bid For State Supreme Court

From time to time, there's a crop of lawyers who represent the very best in that profession. The harvest that produced John Morganelli (Northampton County DA), Jay Leeson (Bethlehem City Council), Phil Hof and Jack Panella (Superior Court Judge), must have been a good one. After spending the summer driving the same shitty car to Philly every day to study for the bar, scarfing hot dogs for lunch if they had money, they were all admitted to Northampton County's Bar together.

They all excelled, but Superior Court Judge Jack Panella is in a class by himself. He is the youngest person ever named to serve as County Solicitor and is the second youngest person to serve as a judge, having first been appointed in 1991. Popular and smart, Panella could have stayed there forever. But Panella, who is actually a legal scholar, bucked the odds and ran for Superior Court in 2003. Although western Pennsylvania has a lock on most appellate judgeships, Jack won.

These judges literally ride the circuit. They spend one week each month in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg or Philly, sitting in three-judge panels to listen as lawyers argue that some lower court committed a legal error. His heavy workload requires him to write at least one opinion every day.

Last March, when Judge Panella dropped by the courthouse for lunch, the place erupted. People would stop what they were doing, walk over and hug him. Deputy sheriffs, defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, maintenance staff and even lowly title searchers were thrilled to see him, and he repaid their warmth with his own. As word circulated that Panella is in the house, the cafeteria became very crowded.

Guess what? Next week, I'll be having lunch with him at the courthouse cafeteria again. It is no secret that Panella is being urged to seek a seat on the state supreme court. I can think of no better person and will be asking Judge Panella his intentions. I hope I'll be giving you some good news.
at

10 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    Unfortunately for Jack, there is a Judge in Philly who is married to a billionaire who is also running. Jack just won't be able to raise the money.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 1:44 PM

    Apparently he is running. The PA Bar Association just gave him their "Highly Recomended" recomendation, which is the highest recommendation they have.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 4:37 PM

    Anon 805, who's the judge in Philly?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    I absolutely agree with you Bernie. Judge Panella is a fine young man with excellent moral and intellectual traits. He will definetly win if voters vote on the merits of the individual.

    ReplyDelete
  5. PA progressiveJanuary 14, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    I asked him last September at state committee. He's running as I reported earlier.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bernie O'HareJanuary 14, 2009 at 8:03 PM

    Thank you, John. Both you and the ET reported Judge Panella's interest in September. I will do another post that reflects your very able reporting.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2009 at 8:20 PM

    Judge Jack A. Panella is running. Unfortunately, he has the same geographic problems that Morgy had. Expect him to lose a close race to Judge Mary Therese Scarmina. She is married to $$$$$$$$$$$$. And is no slouch as a Judge. Georgetown Law etc. etc. . . .

    ReplyDelete
  8. LighthouseJanuary 14, 2009 at 9:03 PM

    I tried to Google "Judge Mary Therese Scarmina" and came up with nothing in either "news" or "web" (???). I also tried just the surname and PA. Is the spelling correct? Who is she?

    That said, Panella would be an excellent infusion of high intellect and integrity.

    ReplyDelete
  9. j23mtocJanuary 15, 2009 at 4:54 PM

    Look up M. Teresa Sarmina, Common Pleas court.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LighthouseJanuary 15, 2009 at 6:17 PM

    Thanks Joseph.

    ReplyDelete

You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.