In a knee-jerk reaction to a Grand Jury report that fails to charge a single person with a crime, Allentown City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday night to fire their Solicitor, Tom Traud. Courtney Robinson, playing Inspector Javert in this sad little exercise of bad government, convinced his fellow legislators to suspend the rules and fire Traud without bothering to place the matter on an agenda so that members of the public would have some advance notice what was intended. These cowards failed to give even Traud notice or an opportunity to be heard.
During this kangaroo court, Robinson even attacked Traud's integrity. He implied that Traud was being dishonest when he told Council that he stopped litigating for the Diocese in 2000. It was actually in 2002.
Hang him!
Another lawyer represented the Diocese of Allentown with Traud. His name is Jay Leeson, and he is a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pa. His name was conveniently omitted from the Grand Jury report by Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Wonder why.
Impeach him!
This very exhaustive report also fails to disclose that, in 2002, it was then Attorney Leeson and Traud who brokered an agreement with the five District Attorneys in the counties served by the Diocese of Allentown. Under this arrangement, all allegations of sexual misconduct by a priest would be forwarded to them. District Attorney John Morganelli mentioned this understanding at a news conference a few weeks ago, and said he is satisfied that the Diocese has honored it.
I guess the report's not so exhaustive as it should have been.
Did Allentown City Council know that Diocese lawyer Tom Traud was one of the persons who helped come up with a procedure that would immediately notify prosecutors when allegations were made?
What they were really worried about was losing a few votes. And Robinson was intent on embarrassing Ray O'Connell, so he can be toppled as Mayor.
In case you're wondering, I know Tom Traud in passing. He is an excellent lawyer. he will not miss Allentown. But I can guarantee you that Allentown will miss him. Thanks to the rocket scientists on City Council, the City has been exposed to all kinds of legal mischief.
Traud was fired for being a good lawyer, representing his client zealously within the bounds of the law. Based on the screwy logic of Courtney Robinson, every judge on the bench in Northampton and Lehigh County would have to step down because all of them, at one time or another, represented a dirtball.
Many of you have probably heard of Gary Asteak, a flamboyant criminal defense lawyer from Easton. He's trying to become a professional beekeeper, but in his career, he's represented the worst of the worst. Killers. Murderers. Even the Sticker Gang! But guess what? He's also an excellent municipal solicitor. All these conservative townships like Bushkill, Lower and Upper Nazareth have had him for years. In Bushkill, they only began speaking English instead of Pennsylvania Dutch at meetings about five years ago. But these so-called hicks understand that a lawyer's job is to represent his client. They'll take a lawyer. Allentown has Courtney Robinson.
23 comments:
You are absolutely correct that Courtney Robinson is attempting to embarrass Mayor O'Connell at every opportunity so that another Mann supporter, Charlie Thiel, can become Mayor. Little Courtney has no ethics and loves to grandstand during Council meetings. His crusade against Tom Traud and the subsequent firing of Tom Traud was an embarrassment. Mr. Traud was fired for being a good lawyer and doing his job for his client.
Little Courtney should resign for his lack of ethics after getting his personal vehicle booted for unpaid parking tickets. If he is going to hold others to such a high standards than he should hold himself, as an elected official, to the same. But again we all know that he has no original ideas or thoughts. He is simply a puppet for the Mann mob.
What is important to note, is that the now former Allentown solicitor was fired unanimously without due process and without hearing where he was represented by himself or another person. That without being charged with a crime he was dismissed because his professional services was mentioned in a report that looked into the sexual scandal that rocked a number of dioceses in the Pennsylvania Roman Catholic Church.
I ask, before City Council took this action , did they meet with Mayor O'Connell in private to discuss their concerns about the solicitor's reported past actions as a diocese lawyer involved in dealing with certain aspects of the Church scandal. I believe that would have been the proper governmental course. Consequentially, it looks like to me that the action Council took on Wednesday was very much public relations and political in nature.
It is indeed a sad state of affairs that the Catholic Church in PA, as one of the Christian institutions charged with advocating God's eternal code of moral and ethical behavior should be rocked with this type of scandal which is so contradictory to God's eternal code of moral and ethical behavior. Unfortunately, those individuals and groups whom believe that moral and ethical behavior is ever changing and constantly redefined delight in the plight of this Christian institution.
Parking tickets or pedophiles, you decide.
It is the state of the political situation in the country. You are found guilty by association or accusation. No need for deliberation or thoughtful decisions. You can bet that soon , if not now, just being a proclaimed Catholic will make you suspect of some wrongdoing. The psychiatric professionals now believe that identifying as a born again christian is a mental illness,that transgender and homosexuals are normal, but an atheist will be beyond reproach.
"I wish Bushkill was run like Allentown," said no sane person, ever.
In other news, they've never spoken the Queen's English in The City Without A Shred Of Common Sense And Dignity.
I think it was the type of defense and tactics he used that turns the stomach. Discredit the victim and shuffle the priest to a new hunting ground. It speaks volumes about his character.
The Democratic Party Machine that brought us the current condition of the City, wanted him out from the very beginning simply because he has an (R) after his name. Therefore, he is an evil, rich, diabolical homophobe that had to be removed.
We know this is political, otherwise, liberals like Robinson would feel sorry for the pedophile Priests and would demand that they receive good representation. I would think that "scofflaw" Robinson would be more concerned about paying his parking tickets than going after a decent and honorable man who was conducting his profession. The assumption of innocence and the right of legal representation is one of the foundations this country.
Allentown is going down the tubes.
By taking the position you do about the Catholic Church you are complicit in their action. But then again I always thought you were Satan inspired. Sad thing is you won't even entertain researching the other side of the argument. Again. I saw and heard first hand me myself and I witnessed how this issue was treated. Not what they released to the press or their congregation. I believe you were probably abused, seeing how you protect them. I guess it was the only attention you ever got as a child and why you turned out the way you did.
University
Church
Goverment
Police
Judges
Schools
All corrupt in Pennsylvania!!!!!!!!
^ 9:32
Don’t forget the press.
The solicitor serves at the will of council?
A lawyer always needs to represent their clients. Allentown City Council was quick to judgment. Shapiro's Grand Jury Report is for political motivation. Wait until it's included in his campaign literature for governor. It will be I exposed …… BS, 90% of the material contained is ancient history. Yes, the Church was totally wrong in the manner they handled this plague. Morganelli and Martin are satisfied with how the Allentown Diocese is now handling reporting cases as they are reported. Just ask Msgr. Naïve who was immediately relieved of his duties and ministry. BTW, as disbarred attorney from FL was the individual who contacted the Allentown Diocese. Another disgraced attorney doing worthwhile work.
The man works at the will of the city council. They can toss him whenever the wish. And did so... No news hear move along. Perhaps everyone does not support the catholic church as you do and that is your right and view and I respect that but the council wanted to change direction of the legal adviser.
"Parking tickets or pedophiles, you decide."
So we are now calling Traud a pedophile? That's actually defamatory. I will take Traud, a lawyer who represents his clients over a grandstander and a spendthrift who is so irresponsible he gets his Jeep booted. No contest.
"I think it was the type of defense and tactics he used that turns the stomach"
Discrediting an accuser? He's not there to hold her hand. He was doing his job. It is what lawyers do.
defamatory
Trump lies everyday.
And saying that isn't?
Thomas Traub has spent his life walking around the community like an outstanding upright citizen of the highest order.
Turns out he’s a defender of, and an apologist for pedophiles, perverts, rapists and the institution that gives them aid, comfort, shelter and legal representation.
Attorney Trouds ultimate judgement day is yet to arrive.
So the political aspect of this has now surfaced, one of the people in the report is on TV now saying that the Pennsylvania Republican senate is at fault for not altering the statute of limitations. It is obvious this will now become a political issue in the next election.
Why do you allow all your commenters be anonymous? Far as I could tell you are talking to yourself.
His firing was wrong. He did his job. It takes a certain personality, which begs the question. Why did God make snakes before lawyers? He wanted to practice.
Whoever said "Little Courtney" has caught an ugly case of namecalling from the namecaller-in-chief. Sad!
Given their newfound ethical rigor, one would think Council would stop the city from doing business with the deeply disgraced NMM Law.
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