According to anonymous comment on my blog, Constable Tyrone Comunale is running. He's the dude whose constable car was stolen by someone he had just arrested. Since no cars are provided to magisterial district judges, we should be ok.
A secretary for Magisterial District Judge Douglas Schlegel, Sr. is mulling a run as well. She should run for Schlegel's seat. He on extended leave for about the gazillionth time, and has basically been a mini-judge in absentia.
Another candidate who just announced is Jason Labar. He's got a very impressive resume, according to Express Times editor Jim Deegan. Instead of having one child like Alicia Zito, he has two. While she went to Pius X, he's a Bangor grad, where he was a three-sport athlete.
Like Alicia, he's a lawyer, too. In his release to Deegan, he claims to have tried dozens of cases and to have represented more than 1,000 people. Deegan, in yet another sign of The Express Times' growing journalistic indifference, never bothered asking him where.
I've never seen Jason in Northampton County. But many lawyers who live in the Slate Belt have active Monroe County practices. I was unable to find him there as a solo practitioner or as a member of a law firm. A little more research and I discovered that he's an assistant public defender. He represents people who are charged with criminal activity but who are unable to afford a lawyer. He failed to disclose this in his announcement.He wanted everyone to know he is a lawyer who has lots of experience, but wants no one to know where.
LaBar is obviously concerned that once people discover that his job forces him to represent the bad guy, people will shy away from him. While it's certainly true that this could cost him some votes, I know numerous judges sitting on the bench right now who at one time defended people charged with abominable behavior. Most people understand that everyone is entitled to a defense.
Although I understand LaBar's reluctance to disclose what he does, his failure to own it in his opening announcement is really deceptive behavior on his part. He should have disclosed it. He's running for a position that demands integrity, and is off to a very poor start.
23 comments:
We all know you're hoping for a heaping portion of baked ziti but she's married and you live in a hovel and have the charisma of a autistic leper. This practice of relentlessly shilling for some candidates is more repugnant than your legal career.
Oh dear, it looks like the Mezzacappa monster has broken loose. Have some yummy vegan cocoa, dear, and spike it with 6 oz of vodka. It's a whory night. Sweet dreams.
You missed one other thing Bernie. HE IS NIOT EVEN A MEMBER OF THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY BAR. This duckhead tax trough eater wants my vote as a DJ in my district bragging he is a lawyer and now I find out he is a public defender.. makin it sound like he has a big law practice. He is a bottum feeder public defender and to boot isn't even a member of the bar in the county he wants to run for a district Justice?
UMM, Mr Labar? don't think cause you were an athlete at Bangor that carries any water much anymore. Stay in Monroe County were your established and don't think you have even a prayer down here. So this clown is gonna double suck off me that taxpayer in 2 Counties?
What a legal DOUCHE!
Constable cRaZy, aka Tricia Mezzacappa, aka Harvey, aka Dandy Lion, Your attempt to paint everything in terms like these speak more to your twisted view of the world and relationships than mine. It is true that I live simply, and I love it. You have no idea what my residence is like bc you have never been in it, nor will you ever be in it. The simple fact is that LaBar failed to disclose that he is a public defender. Now I realize dishonesty is unimportant to you, an adjudged defamer, but we semi-normal people prefer judges who are honest.
Yet it is apparent Bernie. Yu are already in the tank for Zito. Let the maligning of all other candidates begin.
I believe any good reporter would want an attorney who said he's tried dozens of cases and has represented over 1,000 people to say where he is employed. The fact that LaBar failed to do so is deceptive. That's just the way it is. Had Zito done that, I'd make the same complaint.
You don't have to defend your position Bernie - you are 100% correct in pointing out this obvious deficiency in Labar's presentation of his experience. It isn't "maligning", it's a bold faced fact.
This would be the equivalent of someone running for constable, and not telling voters that her irrational and aggressive behavior was responsible for causing the municipal building to be locked to visitors. There are things you just have to reveal.
Whomever anon 1:39 and 12:40 is they are as bad as Mezzacrazy. They have the characteristics of a stalker. Dees kind of people tend to be mentally unbalanced.
Comparing a man who is an attorney and tried cases, which he has and is no lie(you need to find some problem to help your judge pals) to a goofy constable is CrAzY in and of itself.
Your alignment on this one is so blatantly obvious Bernie, please don't try to clock it in some desire for transparency.
Nobody is as bad or crazy as Mezzaloonytunes. It is the only one stalking Bernie on his own blog.
There is no reason to not disclose that you work for the Public Defenders Office. I believe both Judge McFadden and Judge Zito both worked diligently for the Public Defenders Office. Additionally, Bob Eyer would make an excellent judge, in my opinion. Whether a Public Defender or Conflicts Counsel, it doesn't matter, in my book. A great lawyer could make a good judge.
Public defender? So basically he is just in this for the pay increase.
It is a definite forward deception. Read the article- He doesn't say where e works period and is trying to be deceptive by not saying he works in Monroe County and hi "clients" and aledged legal career of so many cases are mainly plea deals and cases that never even saw a judge-
This guy is not even a Bar Member here in Northampton County, deceives the public by saying he has caes he doesn't have and from what th eod aroind is- He is a slippery character all the way around. I don't like your p;oitics O'Hare but this one- your right on.
NO WAY- LABAR=LOSER
"Your alignment on this one is so blatantly obvious Bernie, please don't try to clock it in some desire for transparency."
It's more basic than that. It is a desire for honesty. I prefer judges who tell the whole truth. Had Zito made the same omission, I'd hammer her, too.
Bernie,
I know your concern is only with in the one ring circus you reside in, butt as MM has blaTENTly referred to with Ringling closing it's circles. We locals have a three ring carnival circu sideshow playing out dayly in the triboro?
REpublican redd
humanist by design
It's obvious from the lvl reticle that Doogan didn't interview labar, he usually typed from a news release like the other lazy journos at the E-T. Jim, save the time in the future and just scan the release and pair it tonyour lousy website.
You talk about it being your views and not attacking anyone on your site but I'm pretty sure that's what your allowing this "anonymous " person is doing to Jason calling him a loser and a douche and I don't see his comments being taken down so I guess it's free game for all I mean if you Bernie can bad mouth people on your own site then so should everyone else!!
How you can bad mouth Jason for being a public defender boggles my mind because I'm pretty sure being a lawyer/public defender you have to go through all the same steps to get the accomplishments of being a lawyer. Just because he's a public defender doesn't mean he hasn't done just as much as anyone else that works asa lawyer in a big law firm or a private law firm so maybe you should look at the big picture of being a lawyer. Under zito's article or should I say Goodrich since she is married but uses her maiden name bc of who her father is!! That's an accomplishment to try and win an election by using the people and. Name you know might get you to win instead of actually working hard and showing people your the right candidate for it on your own, like Jason is!! She might have went to law school but looking at her article all her jobs have been a law clerk and never once actually doing a lawyers job! So if you think being able to do paper work should make you become district magistrate more power to you but I wouldn't want that in my office!! Or maybe she never passed her boards so kind of like always a bridesmaid, never a bride, I guess we can say always a law clerk, never a lawyer!!
Im not saying you have to be a lawyer to be district magistrate but I sure as heck would want someone in that seat that has the best knowledge and capabilities of supporting the slate belt and our community the best way possible and I would definitely think that's Mr. LaBar!!!
I never attacked LaBar for being a public defender. I attacked him for being deceptive about it. Also, I typically am pretty lenient concerning attacks st candidates for elective office. I prefer lawyers who tell the truth.
Judge Zito's legal credentials and experience speak for themselves. If you read the article you would have seen she was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania in 2002. She is a young professional whom elected to dedicate her career to PUBLIC SERVICE. To chastise her for retaining her maiden name is preposterous in today's society. Judge Zito reputation in the community is impeccable. She's genuine and cares about the Slate Belt. The public will attest to the professionalism in her courtroom. Everyone is treated with fairness, dignity and respect and she always fulfills her duties as a judge to uphold the law. Judge Strohe would approve 100% of Zito continuing his legacy.
Zito will win the election hands down not on her family name but on her own work ethic and proven reputation. She's a people's judge just like Strohe.
Working as a public defender is a very valuable legal career. The issue is not that Mr. LaBar is a public defender the issue is his failure to disclose his employment in his press release and misleading the public for his personal gain trying to improperly represent himself as a "Slate Belt attorney" when in fact he has never worked one day in Northampton County. Ask any member of the Northampton County bar if they've ever heard of him, their response is no. Ask any member of the Slate Belt if they know his father in law the town drug lord I bet that answer is yes.
What you fail to consider is that the Lehigh Valley is a hotbed of nepotism, and many attorneys who live in Northampton County don't practice there. Unlike Ms. Zito, many of us do not have the magic last name or money to donate to the appropriate campaign, and therefore end up finding jobs in neighboring counties. The fact is that clerkships do not give you the experiences and qualifications that actual trial practice does. Clerkships are generally for newly graduated law students that are unsure of what area of the law they would like to practice. They shouldn't be career track positions (unless you're clerking for federal or higher court judges). Mr. Labar has more experience with the actual practice of the law, and that is exactly what those of us who routinely practice before MDJs appreciate. He is hands down the most qualified candidate, and exactly the type of person suited to stand against the rampant nepotism in the Lehigh Valley.
It's funny to read a LaBar supporter complain about nepotism. This is an election, and the people will decide.
At 2:46: Your comment is hilarious. Judge Zito has more experience than Mr. LaBar ever will. She's been doing the job remarkably for months. She's honest, fair, and well respected in this community. The best person for the job is sitting right there and the voters will agree. Mr. LaBar is just wasting time and money. Stay in Monroe county the only place he's ever worked.
I just looked up Schlegel's record as a police officer. Wow - and not a good wow. It's wild that he could even run for judge let alone be elected. It's proof that we need a new system in PA.
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