For forty years, the Northampton County Bar Association has shied away from evaluating judicial candidates. Bethlehem Attorney Al Williams was endorsed over Easton lawyer Mike Franciosa and many wondered whether that happened simply because Bethlehem had a few more J.D.s. Memories fade, and the local bar decided to do these evaluations again. That decision was made months ago, when most of the hopefuls were still unknown. Questionnaires were sent to 425 full members. Returns by 201 attorneys were placed unopened in a separate envelope for review by an accountant.
This survey, which admittedly measures the views of less than half of the bar's full members, is still a setback for candidate Michael Koury, currently a magistrate in Wilson Borough. I've already expressed three objections to Koury's candidacy. First, he's running for reelection to his district court job and the court of common pleas simultaneously, even though he is unable to hold both jobs. Second, he has spent most of his legal career as a magistrate and has no idea what it is like to present a case to a jury. Third, he's a two-time loser best known for a disgusting last-minute smear attempt at then candidate Emil Giordano in 2003. That resulted in a rare condemnation from the bench.
Northampton County attorneys appear to share that view. Only 16 consider Michael "well qualified," and 34 lawyers actually rate him "unqualified." In my online poll, located at the left sidebar, Koury has only 55 votes of 771 votes cast. He trails Craig Dally (175), Sam Murray (138), Karl Longenbach (138), Lenny Zito (131) and Candy Barr Heimbach (84).
In addition to mailers that show Koury gazing in wonder at a portrait of his popular and well-respected father, Michael is embarking on a door-to-door campaign in the campaign's final weeks. Will it be enough? We'll find that out May 19th.
32 comments:
Isn't Narlesky doing the same thing? He's a DJ too. That would be two down.
No. I don't believe Narlesky is running for reelection to DJ. I just checked the web page for elections, and his office is not among them. If he were running for two incompatible offices, I would not vote for him.
I've had the pleasure of seeing Judge Koury almost on a daily basis preside over cases and deal with the public. In my opinion he has all the traits the public would want in a Judge... He is always fair and impartial, professional and personable and will always take the time to talk to anyone who comes to see him.
The survey while it is nice to be liked and approved by your peers really means nothing in this election. I would love to be a "2 time" loser as you put it and get as many previous votes and approval from the voters.
If anything the last elections should be an indication to any of his other well qualified opponents that Mike should not be taken lightly.
I know that Mike will make an excellent County Judge and I hope the voters will see that too when they decide to vote on May 19th.
Fred Schoenenberger,
Constable, Wilson Borough
Fred,
Thanks for stopping by and expressing your opinion. Koury should certainly be taken seriously. I also think that survey, once it becomes common knowledge, will tend to hurt. I'm surprised he has done so poorly in the online poll, although that means nothing.
Being a constable puts you in a position where you get to know individual magistrates. But I should also point out that they determine whether you work. Unlike deputies, you are independent contractors who depend on a magistrate's good will for work.
For someone who is trying to become a judge, perhaps he should stop being a slumlord and start fixing up his slum rental property, ironically located directly across the street from his own residence. I find it interesting that hsi property has had numerous blatant violations that never seem to be addressed. Perhaps some professional pursuasion to certain officials.
Didn't Jim Anthony fail once or twice before he was eventually elected to the Lehigh County bench? Does that make him a loser, too?
No, because he eventually did win. Michael has to win something before he can compare himself to those who actually won.
NARLESKY IS A QUALIFIED TURD CHASER.
Wow a popularity contest with a bunch of lawyers. You take every chance to slam Mike.
He has run campaigns similar to other candidates but they are not on your shit list.
After Mike wins this Fall, will you congratulate him as a WINNER or will you have another bullshit way to slam him.
O'Hare you are an asshole.
Anon (10:06am)-
I know for a fact that Mike Koury does not own or have any involvement in any apartment buildings near his house nor anywhere else. If you have proof to the contrary (address, deed #s, etc.), please post it here. If not, this post should be removed.
Anon 2:17
You support a vicious loser who launched one of the nastiest last-minute smears in recent Northampton County political history (i.e. Giordano in 2003).
It's good that Mike's a loser. It's better that he's being hoisted by his own petard. He should never be permitted to serve beyond traffic court.
Sometimes, even lawyers get it right.
I could only dream to live in a the "slums" around Michael Koury's house. Where do I sign up? I have dibs on the old Simon Herman mansion. What a dump.
I love Boonie's citiation of the opinions of people in a profession that through him out.
"Wow a popularity contest with a bunch of lawyers. You take every chance to slam Mike."Let's say you need to see doctor and are considering seeing Doctor Giggles. Let's say you check him out with 201 other doctors and 67 tell you he is not qualified. Are you still going to see that doctor?
This is no slam at Koury, but an honest observation that this Bar survery is a setback to him.
"I know for a fact that Mike Koury does not own or have any involvement in any apartment buildings near his house nor anywhere else. If you have proof to the contrary (address, deed #s, etc.), please post it here. If not, this post should be removed."I checked his name at the courthouse today and he only owns his home. There is a home nearby owned by his mother and some corporation, but I have no details beyond that. I am not interested in pursuing this anonymous allegation.
"I love Boonie's citiation of the opinions of people in a profession that through him out." - They threw me out but did not "through" me out, damn it. Get it right.
Isn't Will Power running for two positions at the same time? How can you justify supporting Will?
Stoffa ran for two positions at the same time in 2005. He ran for Supervisor of Allen Twp. and County Executive. He also ran for County Council in 2001, while still a Director of Human Services, a violation of the Hatch Act.
I don't remember O'Hare complaining about that. Why not condemn Stoffa now like you do Mike.
It will never happen by BO or the Press. Double standard.
Koury is running for two incompatible offices. he cannot be magistrate and common pleas judge simultaneously. it is insulting to voters when a candidate runs for multiple offices like that. i have criticized Jenn Mann for doing that. I criticize koury for doing it.
In Wull Power's case, the position of constable is not incompatible w/ county council. So I have no objection to his seeking two offices. He can legally hold both.
Stoffa did not run for Allen Tp supervisor, but did get 5 write-in votes in the primary. He was not on the ballot in the Fall. If he had been running for two incompatible offices, I would have criticized it.
BOH you didn't address the Hatch Act violation by Stoffa. Too hot an issue?
John retired from Lehigh County Human Services in 2001. So his 2001 run was no Hatch Act violation. You are grasping for straws, as usual. Imagine what you could accomplish if you actually researched before making baseless charges.
Not true he didnot retire until after the primary. That was a violation. Once you show intent to run, you resign. Stoffa broke the law and you are just a pathetic lapdog defending his actions and making up stories to cover his ass.
The remedy for a Hatch Act violation is to require the person seeking office to resign. Stoffa retired. Big deal.
I think bernie you are really OBSESSED with slamming judical candidate Michael Koury. Get over it!!!!
When the bar ass'n does its first ever judicial survey in 40 years, people have a right to know. If one judicial candidate is considered unqualified by 1/3 of the bar, people have a right to know.
This has nothing to do w/ obsession. This has everything to do w/ the people's right to know. I am certain the papers will run this story.
67 out of 425 attorneys is 15% of the Bar -- not 1/3 of the Bar. 81 out of 425 attorneys rated Koury either qualified or highly qualified – 19% of the Bar. So he was rated by only 34% of the Bar – 19% found him qualified or highly qualified and 15% found him not qualified. 66% of the Bar did not rate Koury. These numbers are all correct, right Bernie??
67 of the 201 respondents is 1/3 of the bar members voting. That's sobering. Makes one think twice, no matter how many full page ads you buy.
O'Hare you are a real hater. When you decide to try and destroy someone you are a vicious little prick.
O'Hare holds a grudge against Mike Koury. When O'Hare has a grudge he never lets up until he can destroy the person.
How many has O'Hare destroyed so far?
Here is a more detailed list of bar ratings.
Top Three: Zito, Murray and Longenbach
Results of poll of 201 members of Northampton County Bar ratings of judicial candidates
1 Zito 178 votes well qualified or qualified
2 Murray 162 votes well qualified or qualified
3 Longenbach 152 votes well qualified or qualified
4 Narlesky & Hollenbach 140
5 Heimbach 128
5 Dally 114 ( with 2nd highest number of not qualified votes 34)
6 Koury 81 (with highest no of not qualified 76)
Who better than their peers who have knowledge of their skills, courtroom expereince and demeanor?
Thanks for putting those results together like that.
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