Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Jim Martin Made a Difference in Lehigh County

Monday, August 17, 2026

Jim Martin Made a Difference in Lehigh County

div>Crimefighters are often called bulldogs. I would not use that term to describe former Lehigh County DA Jim Martin, that county's top prosecutor for 26 years. He was not the flashy matador, but the raging bull. I've seen him angry at Lehigh County Comm'r meetings during budget hearings, with steam billowing from his nose and ears as he looked ready to ram headfirst into the dais that protects Commissioners from the running of the bulls. His life, like all our lives, has ended the same way that every life does. He unfortunately passed away on Saturday. But the way he lived his life sets him apart. He left the world, and Lehigh County, a little bit better than it was before he got here.

Despite his legal acumen and prowess in the courtroom, Martin did not try cases himself. He differed from his contemporary, John Morganelli, that way. He instead adopted a proactive approach that would prevent crime before it happened.

His greatest achievement by far was the establishment of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center, which creates databases of local and state police reports as well as data collected at jails to enable investigators to solve murders in days instead of years, if at all. When NorCo was too cheap to pay the pittance to participate, he still allowed police departments in NorCo to use the resources.

Martin also started a Child Advocacy Center, Homicide Task Force, Elder Abuse Task Force and the David M. Petzold Digital Forensic Laboratory and the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center. He also helped create the Veteran’s Mentoring Program, the Central Booking Facility and the county’s first Drug Treatment Court.

He was a contemporary of my father, and I'd say it's a fair bet that they did some bullfighting together, back in the day. I know my Dad thought very highly of him, as did I.

I'll share a story that the late Bill Malkames, a famous zoning lawyer, once told me about Martin. Many years ago, Bill was once representing someone in Allentown who needed zoning approval for some kind of development. Sometimes a zoning appeal can be very controversial, especially when NIMBYs are out there. It doesn't matter that you're right. Well, Bill won his case, as he should have, but the NIMBYs did not like it and began to accost Bill in the lobby outside of the meeting room. Bill was a big guy and in tremendous physical condition at that time in his life, but was no fighter, even though he was originally from Hazelton. Things were getting ugly when suddenly, out of nowhere, the massive frame of none other than Jim Martin interjected himself between Malkames and the mob.

As steam blew out his ears, Martin thundered, "I just want you to know the police are on their way, and any of you who lays a hand on me will be assaulting an assistant District Attorney."

The mob melted.

I'm sure that Malkames and Martin went out for a few Sangrias after that experience/