I just received a telephone call at 1:15 PM, telling me the parking spots reserved for Northampton County's nine judges, is empty. Maybe they're all at a party. They must be really busy. Perhaps the state legislature should approve a 10th judge and have more "senior" judges and "masters" appointed. Then our overworked judges wouldn't have to come in at all.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.
perhaps Kourey just moved into chambers on a permanent basis. he probably turned his office into a clubhouse. Let me ask: was there a tricyle outside the courthouse?
ReplyDeleteAnother possible explanation:
Ron Angle drafted a memo on the State Supreme Court Chief Justice's letter head telling the judges that their new officers are in Allentown at the Old Recreation Dept Offices in Cedar Beach. They have been holding trials there for the last 48 hours over the heated disputes between the bunnies and squirrels. Terrible injustices. Sadly, Kourney didn't get the memo so Ron still has to face a rendering by the court on his matter with the DA. It was a good plan but with poor execution.
Time to privatize the Court System and let the Insurance comapnies run them. You have to join a court and pay a premium to a private court system, one of many to be defended or have your case prosecuted. Let's make money!!!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a blockbuster story Bernie. I can't believe there were no cars in the parking lot during lunchtime on Secretary's Day. You might get a Pulitzer Prize for this one. Keep up the hard-knocking investigative journalism.
ReplyDeleteHey 4:53, What I posted today is an all too often occurrence. Simply put, we don't need 9 judges We don't need the senior judges and masters, either.
ReplyDeleteOn any given day of the week and at any given time, you will see that at last half of the valuable parking spaces reserved for judges are simply empty.
I think the main reason the judges' floor is off limts has nothing to do with their security. They just don't want people to know how little they actually work.
Individually, I like most of the judges sitting on tht bench. I consider some of them friends. But I do not admire the bench's work ethic. It should embarrass them.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Norco judges would not have as much free time if they would adopt a judge based calendar rather than the archaic court based calendar.
Apparently, the court based calendar creates free time for judges.
Is this because your pal Angle was slapped into line by Judge Franciosa. Are we going to see more snippy, pissy articles in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when the Judge rules the Law is crystal clear and Angle is tossed from County council, will we see a post about the toilet seats staying up.
Bernie, your predictable victims are always predictable based on your friends.
Angle has not been slapped by anyone. Since I've started blogging, I've been critical of judges as a group.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, I agree with BOH on this one. 9 judges seems excessive. The docket can't be that crowded. Who oversees them to look into this? Are they accountable to anyone?
ReplyDeleteAs an attorney, I do not think there are enough judges. The dockets are very crowded and move slowly.
ReplyDeleteLehigh County is much worse than Northampton. The civil judges in Lehigh are very backed up. We are getting trial dates 8-12 months out, and that is once the case is ready for trial-after discovery and pre-trial motions.
The President Judge has some authority, but is regarded as a first among equals more than anything else. So there is no real control or authority.
ReplyDeleteWe can consider ourselves lucky. Most of these judges are good people, but we don't have to look too far north to see examples of judges who abused their unilateral authority.
I'd argue that there must be tighter control and more accountability with judges. What I pointed out today is by no means unusual.
Att'y 8:48,
ReplyDeleteI'd argue that it is not a shortage of judges, but a shortage of judges who are willing to put in 40 or 50 hour weeks. I am sure you put in a 70 hour week bc you havve overhead athat is not going to pay for itself. Judges have no such concern.
Give the PJ some real authority, have the AOPC monitor more closely, and make judges stand for election, as opposed to retention after ten years.
Please Bernie. This is why average lawyers spend thousands to millions of OPM to become judges. Good pay for life, best bennie's, God like treatment and a work schedule that the homeless envy.
ReplyDeleteWow! It took you thins long to realize that.
Oliver Holmes
Here we thought the prison and gracedale was costing us money. I see cuts which equal savings!!! Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteBernie you are correct again. their work ethic is embarrassing and here's a no brainer ---- night court. Millions of dollars were wasted on yet another group of courtrooms. Heck they leave every light on every night so the utility costs would remain the same anyway, why not use it at night and make it convenient for the working public.
ReplyDeleteBecause it would be invconvenient to the judges.
ReplyDeleteI agree Bernie, there is no reason this group is not working 50+ hrs/week. Especially when you realize the pay + benefits ($167k, health insurance, pensions) cost us at least $250k/yr. Great gig, especially as they give off the impression that it is part-time. It ain't no wonder why Craig Daley spent as much money as he did to get the job. And he didn't even need to be a practicing lawyer to get it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a payback slam on behalf of Ron Angle.
ReplyDeleteyeah right - like you really don't know Daley is Dally. Got a relative who could right a letter to the editor - again?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone considered that they have home offices? Just because they are not chained to their desk doens't mean they are not working hard. In a professional occupation you have that flexability. Remember that the vast majority of a judge's day is spent reading and writing. I know many judges that leave their staff to man the phones and work remotely when possible.
ReplyDeleteThat's all certainly true, but there would be less of a need for senior judges and all those masters if the nine judges who currently sit on the bench spent more time at the courthouse, sitting on the bench.
ReplyDelete