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Morganelli, with wife Diana at his side, takes the oath
administered by President Judge Michael Koury, Jr. |
John Morganelli was officially sworn into office on Friday as a Northampton County Judge of the Court of Common Pleas amid pomp and circumstance in historic Courtroom No. 1. The prison's Honor Guard, in dress blues and accompanied by a bagpiper, presented the colors. The entire bench of the County's judges, festooned in their black robes, attended the ceremony. So did U.S. District Court judges Ed Smith and Joseph Leeson, Jr and numerous other dignitaries. Easton Area High School's Karissa Kresch sang the national anthem. Two Catholic priests offered prayers. President Judge Michael Koury, Jr, administered the oath. The courtroom was packed with family, including John's mother, as well as close to 500 friends. But it was Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez, Morganelli's closest friend, who reminded everyone that both of them are products of Bethlehem's south side. "John has never forgotten his roots, his humble beginnings and who his friends are," said Donchez.
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| The Prison Honor Guard presents the colors |
Donchez and Morganelli, who lived a block apart on Evans Street, grew up together. "None of us realized how very little we had," he remarked. Morganelli's father was a construction worker with a sixth grade education. His mom was a seamstress with an 11th grade education. John would go on to be the first member of his family to graduate from college, ranking fifth in a class of 305 at Moravian College. From there it was law school. Morganelli said he always dreamt of becoming a lawyer so he could help "the average folks.".
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President Judge Michael Koury, Jr. welcomes Morganelli's friends and family
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Although most people remember Morganelli from his long tenure as District Attorney, Judge Leeson provided an example of just how Morganelli did help ordinary people as a lawyer. He described a case in which a woman's husband, a fitness buff in excellent health, died during a routine operation. She felt there had to be an explanation, but doctors insisted it was just one of those things. Lawyers refused to represent this widow, but Morganelli took the case and began deposing the medical personnel who participated in this surgery. All insisted they had done everything correctly until John came to the very last nurse who had been in the operating room. After asking whether she had to tell the truth, she revealed that the surgeon had nicked an artery and the patient bled to death. The case settled.
For his own part, Morganelli said he feels lucky, not because he's a judge, but because of the support and encouragement he's received from his family and friends and dedicated assistants like Terry Houck. His love for the law is what prompted him to seek a judgeship. "The law is what makes us all equal," he remarked.
Morganelli's childhood friends may have had humble beginnings, but now they include a mayor, federal judge and a state senator. They often get other on Friday nights. This should be confusing because these "average folks" must now address each other as "Your Honor."
7 comments:
Best wishes in your new career.
Too bad you didn't post an entry on the Kassis ceremony, which was moving, fun, packed, and just an outstanding display of family, community, and government.
I missed Abe's induction as well as Terry Houck's swearing-in ceremony. I wish I could have attended both.
Doesn't the sheriff's department have their own honor guard ?
A superb district attorney, an accomplished lawyer but a great individual. During my professional career I had the pleasure of participating as a witness/officer in the courtroom with DA Morganelli. The Nazareth homicide which started at the American Hotel comes to mind which he prosecuted and won. I wish him much success in his future endeavors.
Zrinksi lie in a court of law.
Giordano found Zrinski to have committed perjury.
DA Morganelli refused to prosecute on clearly denoted perjury after admitting he wanted to stop females from lying to domestic relations.
Forgive me, I have little to no excitement for Judge Morganelli, who knows what laws if any he will enforce.
I dared commenting truth that may not agree with Bernie but I'll try it. I have no personal ax to grind here honest. My issue is we need to find a better way of keeping the blind scales of justice blind and fair. What I mean by that is Da's become judges then the Da's bring cases and motions to the judge who was there boss or co worker, friend is that completely fair? Bring cases to someone who is a friend former co worker. Sure you expect that person to be fair and impartial but we are human. How about donations to the positions of Judge and DA?? If you go to the election office and review donors to that campaigns of Judges and Da's will they recuse themselves because it may look like a favor? But how do you stop hey Terry he was a friend who helped out see what you can do. Harder to do if you are appointed like NJ does sure maybe some political favors which are wrong but no $$$ favors and in NJ can be harder to find someone you worked with in the same office. Last example you know your Judge will be so and so and you know this attorney knows him etc etc.... you hire that attorney. Hard to see how the scales are blind and just.
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