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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, February 14, 2020

Nick Englesson, Judge Dumbass

Judge Dumbass and bride Olga Negron
Nick Englesson is a Magisterial District Judge covering Freemansburg and part of Bethlehem. He's a well respected attorney and likable guy. He's also a dumbass. His handling of an incident involving Bethlehem police and a Puerto Rican male (I'll call him Cheech)  has pretty much rendered him useless in any criminal matter involving Bethlehem police. In addition to pissing them off, Nick has actually opened himself up to challenges of being pro-cop. This is classic dumbass. And it's all because he's in love. Let me tell you the story.

In September, some poor bastard (fortunately not me) was spotted by Bethlehem's finest as he rolled through a stop sign. We all know this is verboten. When Cheech was pulled over, he gave the same name as someone wanted by ICE. Police wanted to be sure they were different people. This fellow was truthful and ultimately released, but he was still charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana. Police had found two roaches while searching his vehicle.

When Cheech appeared for his preliminary hearing before Judge Dumbass in late October, the arresting cop was sick that day. Instead of just tossing the bullshit case, as he should have and the cop probably wanted, Judge Dumbass told Cheech he could get a continuance, seek ARD, waive into court or plead guilty to a third degree misdemeanor. Cheech opted to plead guilty because he was ineligible for ARD and admitted he was, after all, guilty.

While filling out his paperwork, Cheech said he thought he had been stopped because he's Hispanic.  If Bethlehem police were really profiling Hispanics, as Cheech seemed to think, they'd have no time to get anything done because they'd be pulling over most of the south side.  On its face, Cheech's claim is nonsense. But Judge Dumbass believed him. And why? Because he's in love. Nick has always prided himself on his love of all things Latin. He speaks Spanish fluently, and recently married Bethlehem City Council member Olga Negron.

Next time Judge Dumbass saw the arresting officer, he pulled him aside and lectured him on the dangers of racial profiling and the harassment of American citizens.

The officers resented this lecture, complained to their Chief, and he in turn complained to President Judge Michael Koury, Jr. (through the Court Administrator).

Judge Koury asked for an explanation, and Judge Dumbass responded with an eight-page Letter to the Gringos. Bethlehem's Gadfly somehow got a copy and posted it on his blog. Although Gadfly took it upon himself to make a large number of completely unnecessary redactions, this lengthy missive is proof of one thing - Nick Englesson is a dumbass

First, Nick, in his letterhead, refers to himself as "Nicholas E Englesson, Esquire." As a matter of etiquette, the word "Esquire" is used when addressing an attorney. Thus, in a letter to Englesson, it would be appropriate to refer to him as "Esquire." But as a matter of etiquette, a lawyer should never use that word in referring to himself.

Dumbass.

Second. Nick's lengthy letter makes very clear that he believed a person who was, after all, admitting he was guilty.

Dumbass.

Third, mostly because he's in love with a Latina, Nick decided to lecture Bethlehem cops on racial profiling and immigration detainers, despite a dearth of evidence to back him up.

Dumbass.

Fourth, in his Letter to the Gringos, Nick actually goes out of his way to assert he is pro-cop. He said he has an "affinity" for police officers, admits ex parte conversations with them on how to prepare a case for court, and will reschedule cases if a cop is a no-show instead of dismissing the matter, as other judges do. Based on these statements, any defense lawyer could ask that Nick be disqualified from any case involving Bethlehem police.  He has just told the President Judge that he plays favorites.

Dumbass.

Nick once told me that, in his entire career as a prosecutor, only one person ever accused him of prosecutorial conduct. Me. It's true. I did it routinely. Nick is actually a great guy, but he's in love.

This makes him Judge Dumbass.

Esquire.

Updated 9:25 am: Judge Dumbass Wants Cops Disciplined for Daring to Criticize Him! - In his First Letter to the Gringos, Nicholas Englesson, ESQUIRE emphasized that he has never reported a cop to his superiors or embarrassed them in court. But in his Second Letter to the Gringos, that's exactly what Judge Dumbass does. Like his first epistle, this one is also pretty long. Seven pages. Gadfly has published it. In this missive, he once again discusses his "special affinity for the Bethlehem Police Department," and goes on to say "I have come to regard the Bethlehem Police Department as the finest around ... ."

Judge Dumbass is incensed that Bethlehem's police chief "would retaliate against a highly educated and presumably privileged white male, and duly elected member of the judiciary," and "can only imagine how he would treat a lowly, powerless Hispanic American." He insists that the Chief reassign the complaining officer to parts of the city outside his magisterial district, and goes on to warn of "unrest" among the City's Latino population.

Once again, he sent out numerous copies. In both of his Letters to the Gringos, Judge Dumbass has manifested bias in violation of Canon 2 of the Rules Governing the Standard of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges. His pro-cop statements are a basis for seeking his disqualification from any matter involving Bethlehem police, and his thin-skinned outrage at being criticized by the Chief  diminishes the prestige of his office.

Updated 4:00 pm: I have and will post unredacted copies of the Judge Dumbass Epistles. - Bethlehem Gadfly posted heavily redacted versions, and actually eliminated 38 lines of text from Nick Englesson's First Letter to the Gringos because, according to him, they "do not directly bear on the dispute at hand." That's bullshit. It is completely relevant, as you will see when I post the letter in its entirety on Monday. In it, Englesson discusses his relationship with Olga Negron, a point that the Gadfly, if he really were a gadfly, should have mentioned. Instead, he redacted it. He also ridiculously suggests that Chief DiLuzio is exacting revenge because Mrs. Dumbass backed Terry Houck for DA.

In the meantime, the NorCo Public Defender is ordering a court reporter at every hearing conducted in front of Esquire.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bernie please run for office and show everyone how SMART “YOU ARE” then we can pass our judgement over how you handle things. I for one think your a dumb ass.. or maybe tour just jealous bc you can’t practice anymore. Poor guy....

Bernie O'Hare said...

It’s “you’re,” not “your” or “tour”. And in America, it’s “judgment,” not “judgement.”

Dumbass.

Anonymous said...

Bernie - Are you for real with this?

Bernie O'Hare said...

For real. Any judge who states he is pro-cop i setting himself up. A judge should be pro-justice.

Anonymous said...

how were these sensitive documents leaked?? Pretty incredible.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Not sure how sensitive they were bc Nick cced about 1,000 people. Another dumbass move.

Anonymous said...

It looks like there were also police documents posted on that insanely narcissistic Ed Gallagher blog. I meant those sensitive documents.

Anonymous said...

Bad moves here by Englesson, he should not continue matters when the police don’t show up and don’t have a good excuse in advance, ie injury or public emergency. He should not be encouraging waivers. He should not be pro cop. But this is not him alone, this is all the MDJs in Northampton County. One MDJ can even be seen wearing thin blue line memorabilia while in his robes pretending to be impartial.

But why are you going out of your way to smear him with the esquire issue. Open any random court file with a pleading and look at the signature line, every attorney has “esquire” in the signature line. You know this.

But this whole thing is pretty fishy. It will be interesting to see who challenges Engelsson for the judge seat and how they might be connected to this.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"But why are you going out of your way to smear him with the esquire issue. Open any random court file with a pleading and look at the signature line, every attorney has “esquire” in the signature line. You know this."

I do not know this, and I look at lots of pleadings, In most instances, an attorney does NOT refer to himself as "Esquire." I am immediately suspicious of the arguments made by attorneys who refer to themselves this way, or insist on calling themselves J.D. or even "Doctor."

It is bush league for a lawyer to refer to himself as "Esquire." But it is proper for him to address other attorneys as Esquire.

If you get a letter from a judge, you'll notice he does not refer to himself as "Honorable." But others refer to him as Hon. Michael J. Koury, Jr. or Hon. John M Morganelli in correspondence.

If you are an attorney and refer to yourself as Esquire, STOP.

I learned this bit of etiquette from my father.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"It looks like there were also police documents posted on that insanely narcissistic Ed Gallagher blog. I meant those sensitive documents."

The only item he posted was Nick's heavily (and unnecessarily) redacted Letter to the Gringos, which Nick himself sent everywhere. No police documents. If Gallagher is insanely narcissistic, I am probably ready for a 302.

Anonymous said...

That's bush league, pysche out bullshit. Laughable. Ha! Ha!

Bernie O'Hare said...

" It will be interesting to see who challenges Engelsson for the judge seat and how they might be connected to this."

Nick was elected in 2017 and does not have to run again until 2023. No one is connected to this.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I neglected to include DiLuzio's letter, which includes statements from the two officers. I do not consider those police documents.

Anonymous said...

i remember when he ran for LeCo Commissioner and won.

his campaign palm cards literally read:

"You could do worse"

I love the guy

Jack Mehoff said...

and he has no taste in women

Anonymous said...

Why was guy not eligible for ARD?

Anonymous said...

After taking the time to review all the linked letters and documents, I think Bernie is out of line. Accusing someone of informally discussing an alleged civil rights violation with two police officers only because he is "in love" is especially dumbass.

Anonymous said...

Yowza! I was having empathy for DJ Engelsson until he wrote that he believes the officers involved in the Hirko murder were blameless. This alone is cause for concern. The financial judgement was one time that I didn't mind my taxes going up, other than that scumbag Karoly getting 40% of it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Why was guy not eligible for ARD?"

Obviously, because he already had been on ARD.

" I think Bernie is out of line. Accusing someone of informally discussing an alleged civil rights violation with two police officers only because he is "in love" is especially dumbass."

Nick has an undeniable pro-Latin bias. He clearly is motivated by that bias in imagining nonexistent civil rights violations.

Anonymous said...

Much like his wife, who is reportedly running for mayor, Nick can't seem to make a concise point and rambles on and on. He should learn that much like his hair dye, too much makes it look worse.

Anonymous said...

Bernie at 10 am: Doesn't a warrantless search make for a civil rights violation, regardless of a citizen's race?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Not when the Defendant consents, a point that Nick appears to forget. It's in the Affidavit of probable cause.

F.U. Bailey, JD, PDQ, RSVP, LGBTQ, WD40 - ESQUIRE said...

Lawyers should be proud. They should also refrain from being dumbasses. To put it another way, "hace calor aquí, así que quítate la ropa."

Anonymous said...

Is he pro-cop or pro-Latin? Inquiring minds want to know.

Pro-Latin said...

Manus hinc et ego illi qui ex lege Mambo.

Anonymous said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nX-Ls7ZsxE

Anonymous said...

Why would an ex-lawyer show such disrespect for the judiciary? this magistrate is just exercising his political correctness. Cops bad, minorities good, it is just that simple.

Anonymous said...

Bethlehem / Freemansburg now sanctuary town(s) ? This is why our country is turning to crap. Idiots like this.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Is he pro-cop or pro-Latin? Inquiring minds want to know."

He is obviously both when he needs to be pro-justice.

Anonymous said...

Dumbass loves Olga's taco !

Anonymous said...

Bernie, here in the Lehigh valley the conflicts are thick as theives. This is why we see all the imports hiding one another's criminal activities.

Mind you that not all are of this criminal behavior. As Representatives of the state one would think that there would be a look into this collective.

Anonymous said...

Bernie at 11 am: According to the judge's first letter, the defendant told him he did not consent to a search (a point you apppear to forget). On this basis, the judge is reporting a civil rights violation. You on the other hand, want to accept the affidavit as if a police officer would never misrepresent. Perhaps the cop's video camera would reveal the so-called consent, another point the judge makes.

Anonymous said...

For crying out loud, Bernie, you make me laugh, despite my outrage. You truly are great!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Bernie at 11 am: According to the judge's first letter, the defendant told him he did not consent to a search (a point you apppear to forget). On this basis, the judge is reporting a civil rights violation.

No he's not. He is stirring the pot, and is trying to create issues that do not exist, probably to help his wife and himself politically. . And no, I do not believe the defendant, who is ineligible for ARD and pleaded guilty. Let me add there was an internal investigation, and there is zero doubt in my mind that consent was obtained. The suggestion that a Bethlehem police officer falsified an affidavit of probable cause is an accusation of criminal activity. As a result of an internal investigation, I know it is a baseless accusation and betrays a real bias on the part of Judge Dumbass. ,

Anonymous said...

You can't have it both ways bernie. The original story is about a judge who is siding with the underdog (the hispanic underprivileged defendant). The story ends with some crazy theory that the same judge is pro-law enforcement and no defense lawyer can ever get a fair hearing in his courtroom. I call BS. As I read the redacted letters, the judge is stating he has a trust and respect for the bethlehem police department and was trying to give some rookie cop a heads up that the defendant felt like the cop took the traffic stop too far. You are making this sound like it is an all out war. is this really a juicy story? No. And the comment about calling his wife Mrs Dumbass? That is a cheap shot and totally out of line. Your comments and attack on the Mrs should be retracted. You just started a war and opened up a firestorm. The Ides of March are coming. March 3rd to be exact. If you spoke spanish, maybe you would have known that by now.

Anonymous said...

So now Mrs. Gringo (PD Office) is placing a court reporter in the judge's courtroom.
I'm sure the PD's intent is to protect her clients and not act as a weapon for her husband, Mr. Gringo. /s

Bernie O'Hare said...

Actually, Judge Dumbass is trying to have it both ways. He claims Bethlehem cops are profiling Latinos, despite a complete absence of evidence, and at the same time, claims he is very pro-cop and bends over backwards for them and has a "special affinity" for them. It is outrageous to see any judge say something like that, and at the same time, it is unethical. And as for all out war, it is Dumbass who is warning the Mayor of future "civil unrest." As for Mrs. Dumnbass, it is very clear to me that she and her husband are trying to create an issue and will try to use her platform on City Council to do so. Even though Dumbass said they keeo a firewall between what he does and she does,. That's a lie. She is on Facebook trying to get people to say that cops are mean to them so her husband does not look so stupid, and wants to whip up a firestorm in March. Too late for that. She's a phony and it appears they both want an issue for when she runs for Mayor or some other office.

Anonymous said...

Was he already in custody when the officer asked for consent?
Spit cup for tobacco? PD can't chew in car, or out on duty.
This whole thing, both sides is a laugh.

Anonymous said...

Hi, 3:35 am! The Ides of March is indeed coming, but a month from today.

Anonymous said...

and the po-po can just release the stats of stops by race.
easy way to show how color blind they are.
and an internal review? like--Sergeant"hey officer friendly did you ask for consent?"
Officer--"yep"
Sergeant " good enough for me lets go get a beer"


" It is outrageous to see any judge say something like that, and at the same time, it is unethical."
so when a person running for judge brags about a police endorsement or being pro cop --that just evaporates when he slides on a black robe in office?
not a chance
The same judge will take election money from criminal defense attorneys but that has no effect on his rulings?
judges are political creatures--nature of the beast.
there is the world you want and there is the world that is.

Peterjcochran said...

To justify a lawful traffic stop in Pennsylvania, reasonable suspicion of vehicle code is an elliment . No show prosecutor is another issue. .Just perhaps the pursuant realized continuance my lead to 4/A and possibly be pulled into 14/ A violations. Take the day.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"so when a person running for judge brags about a police endorsement or being pro cop --"

Those are completely different things. There is nothing wrong with touting a police endorsement. That's an indication that police respect you, not that you bend over backwards for police. But when you brag about being pro-cop, as Englesson did several times in his various missives, you have crossed a line and are acting unethically. That's just one instance of unethical behavior on his part. There are actually quite a few. I'm sure he'll be hearing soon enough from the Judicial Conduct Board. I was blown away by several of his statements, including his public claim that the county's Chief Public Defender is petty and vindictive. Can a judge who openly makes this claim be fair in any case involving a public defender? Especially when he passes it on to numerous people. Should he be involved in any case involving a Latino when it is abundantly clear that he and his wife are even now trying to stir up the Latino community and he is warning of "civil unrest?" His unethical behavior is nothing short of outrageous.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"So now Mrs. Gringo (PD Office) is placing a court reporter in the judge's courtroom.
I'm sure the PD's intent is to protect her clients and not act as a weapon for her husband"


When a judge publicly calls her petty and vindictive, as Judge Dumbass has very publicly done, she absolutely needs to protect her clients with a court reporter. That is the least she should do. I would file a motion to have Englesson disqualified from hearing any case involving Bethlehem Police or her office.

Anonymous said...

Where do you find these stories? Wish you published a local weekly. I'd subscribe.

Bernie O'Hare said...

It's true she's done a lot of job bouncing, but so far as I know, she's never worked for him.

Anonymous said...

You have never liked Olga and have attacked her for years. Now you use her husband to attack her. Leave this poor, young Latina woman alone.

Anonymous said...

This is a total abuse of power on the judge’s part. The fact that as a sitting Judge, through the use of his councilwoman wife, he purposely leaked documents in attempt to discredit the officer and the Bethlehem Police Department on nothing more than a criminals word, just because said criminal is Hispanic. I have lost all respect for Englesson. He should be reported to the judicial board and removed as sitting Judge.

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