Earlier this month, Lehigh Valley Live reported that Northampton County's Court Administrator Jermaine Greene has been the subject of a temporary Protection From Abuse Order (PFA) based on allegations by his wife that he soaked his wife's clothing in gasoline, broke her rib and threatened to kill her.
It is important to note that a temporary PFA is based on allegations alone. Rightly or wrongly, I generally avoid writing about temporary PFAs unless they are accompanied by contemporaneous criminal charges or involve a police officer. I've taken a lot of heat for refusing to write about this story. Greene has many enemies at the courthouse. Moreover, there are those who would rather see me writing about Greene's PFA than a very negative Grand Jury report about Gracedale.
I am writing about the PFA now because criminal charges have been filed. Greene been charged by Middle Smithfield Tp police with criminal mischief as a summary offense based on his wife's allegation that he soaked her clothing in gasoline on August 22. No charges have been filed concerning any assault or death threat.
The courts have declined comment.
(This was originally posted on 9/26, and is being reposted).
So you'll only write about a PFA if it's a police officer?? Not if it's the administrator of an entire county court system. Seems a bit biased that everyone benefits from being presumed innocent except for a police officer.
ReplyDeleteThe reason is that police officers are first responders to domestic abuse incidents.
DeleteTemporary PFAs are based on allegations alone, but they are granted because a judge feels like there’s enough evidence to have a final hearing, giving the accused a chance to defend themselves.
ReplyDeleteJudge Baratta granted a PFA on be for my ex husband based on hearsay, because my ex's attorney had donated a generous amount of money to his campaign- then Baratta was later heard stating that I'm not a threat to anyone. I did absolutely nothing wrong..I was never charged with a crime. But 10 minutes in front of a judge and all of a sudden I'm being evicted from my home with nothing but the clothes on my back.
DeletePFA's are unconstitutional, and corrupt judges like Baratta make it incredibly dangerous. Unfortunately he is the DA now.
Gary Gorman to 10:14- Thank god you know the Constitution. At first, your post made me nervous.
DeletePFA orders are issued on the sworn testimony of one person, and no other evidence is required. No judge wants to deny a PFA request because if they are wrong, and an abuser commits a more serious crime which the judge might have prevented, that is not serving justice. The consequence is that PFAs are granted quite easily, and the constitutional safeguard is that they are issued on an emergency basis and expire in a short time unless renewed. It's an attempt to balance the rights of the parties, but no piece of paper ever kept a motivated killer away.
DeleteHe allegedly violated the Temporary PFA that you scoff at. A Criminal Contempt hearing for that violation is scheduled for sometime in October. I can’t believe Domestic Violence against one of Northampton County’s most respected Court employees, is not being taken more seriously !
ReplyDeleteI do not "scoff" at temporary PFAs. They are court orders designed primarily to prevent violence or abuse. But I see no public benefit to publicizing salacious allegations unless accompanied by criminal charges.
Deletegreens ‘many’ enemies at the courthouse didnt beat his wife
ReplyDeleteNot to mention a wife he also supervises.
DeleteThat maybe mentally ill?
DeleteBut a grand jury report is only allegations under oath, just like the basis for a temporary PFA. The only criminal charge in regard to Gracedale was pending well prior to the publication of the report, and certainly not the focus of the numerous blog posts.
ReplyDeleteLove how you wrote this on an unexpected Saturday! If this was one of the trifecta you would've been all over it, but hey, a bottom feeder with a few hundred readers you got to do what you can do.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this on a Saturday bc that's when I saw the charges, but i will repost on Monday as well.
DeleteWell, well… if we’re going to talk about crime, maybe we should finally have the uncomfortable conversation about men and violence.
DeleteMen are responsible for a disproportionately large share of violent crime, homicide, drug offenses, theft, and incarceration. Yet somehow, whenever that reality gets brought up, the immediate response is, “Not all men.”
Obviously. Nobody said all men.
But “not all men” is not a meaningful response to a discussion about a documented pattern. If the overwhelming majority of people committing certain violent crimes are men, then maybe—just maybe—it’s worth asking some very uncomfortable questions about how we raise boys, what we teach them about aggression, entitlement, control, and accountability, and why so many men continue to excuse other men's behavior.
And let's be especially clear about domestic violence: pouring gasoline on your wife's clothes, beating her, terrorizing her, or abusing someone you claim to love isn't masculinity. It's violence.
Being a man isn't about dominating someone weaker than you. It isn't about intimidation. It isn't about having everyone afraid of you.
If your idea of being a man requires hurting a woman to feel powerful, you haven't demonstrated masculinity—you've demonstrated that you have a serious problem.
So instead of getting defensive about the phrase “men,” maybe some men could look in the mirror and ask a much more useful question:
What are we doing to raise men who know that strength means self-control, accountability, and protecting people—not hurting them?
Let's not go too far down that rabbit hole on who disproportionately commits most violence in the United States. Your sensibilities might be offended.
Delete@1012 please try to offend my sensibilities. Facts are facts.
DeleteEveryone at the Courthouse with any responsibility has many enemies. Jermaine Greene is not alone in that regard. He’s had a Temporary PFA entered against him. He’s been accused of violating the PFA. He’s had criminal charges filed against him. The question is, why does he still have a job ?
ReplyDeleteBecause everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Delete9:01- Jermaine Greene is in a high judicial position involving quite a bit of power over subordinates and other people. Given the nature of the allegations and the charges filed against him, he should be on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the case. I've tried to post this a couple of times but BOH never would approve the post.
DeletePerhaps now, Tara Zrinski will take her job seriously and address this problem.
Some people are innocent until proven guilty. Other have to sit in jail until that question can be answered. Other people lose their jobs just over the accusation. Greene should be happy that he is in "protected by the Government" unlike a vast majority of other people.
Delete10"13, If your comment was not posted, that's bc you you did not submit it properly or submitted it on a topic about something else.
DeleteIronically, several long time employees were never given an opportunity to defend themselves or have due process when facing disciplinary action at Mr. Greene’s hands. Several people have lost wages, lost future earnings toward their pension, and damage to their mental health. Why the AOPC and the bench is giving him a pass if disheartening…
DeleteMaybe you should look into the nepotism surrounding Mr. Greene, and the leniencies that have been overlooked which are related to said persons.
ReplyDeleteYeah like he could not supervise one of his employees because of said PFA.
DeleteMental illness is a terrible thing to overcome without help.
DeleteNot sure what you mean. But take a look into the family members JJG has employed, created positions for, moved into positions they were not eligible for in front of better qualified workers, and had many graces provided to them that other County employees would have been fired for (ie...missing work without calling or showing but still having a job, among other things.)
DeleteIf it’s Middle Smithfield Twp in Monroe County, the municipality is covered by PSP-Stroudsburg.
ReplyDeleteWhy is everyone giving you shit for not writing about this ? You’ve been clear for years that this isn’t a “news” source. It’s not your job, it’s the Judges job. The Execs job. Most importantly it’s County Council’s job to have zero tolerance for domestic violence.
ReplyDeleteYoung black Americans commit a disproportionately high number of murders and robberies but that's not bc they are black. They do so bc they are young, stupid and in a bad environment to begin with.
DeleteJermaine is not young. He’s in his 50’s. He is both intellectually and physically powerful. He is educated, and he has risen to occupy one of the most powerful positions in Northampton County. His race has nothing to do with his alleged misdeeds and any implication otherwise is disgraceful.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right. I was responding to someone who suggested not to go too far down that rabbit hole, implying that doing so would result in charges of racism. I answered that yes, a disproportionately high number of violent crimes are committed by young black males, but it’s not bc of their race.
DeleteI find it odd that someone mentioned it in the context of this post and wondered whether that person was insinuating that race itself was a factor. I completely agree that any implication that Jermaine’s race is a factor by itself is disgraceful
It was never if, but when this coward would be criminally charged-Jermaine Greene is a terrible human being, who destroyed C & Y by running good people into the ground.
ReplyDeleteAnd the juvenile justice center staff as well. Multiple staff came forward and spoke up against that place and the leadership. Nothing was done.
DeleteKarma is a bitch. He destroyed young mens lives without due process- just an awful human being.
DeleteEntirely unrelated to the as yet unproven allegations against Germaine of domestic violence, he has a history of sexual harassment in his roles in Northampton County.
ReplyDeleteyes he sexually harassed women I told him twice to keep his hands off me . He knows nothing about the law and was allowed to conduct Gagnon hearings. He is a disgrace and should be gone with no pension
DeleteHave you reported that?
DeleteTalk about a Code of Conduct. VIolation. The Court must be mortified by him. He is a scum bag and a bully! FIRE HIM ALREADY!
ReplyDeleteCode of conduct violation from the top dog in Northampton County Court and he gets suspended WITH PAY. Insanity. He’s a bully and he’s got to go!
ReplyDeleteMr. Greene doesn’t have enemies so much as he has victims. Victims who have had little to no recourse,nowhere to turn and no support from those that should have been protecting them. EVeryone was too scared of his unchecked ability to be vengeful. He’s really had them over a barrel for a long time, and that’s why we now root for his employment demise. SHame on the judges for allowing him to bully the dedicated, life-long employees of NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
ReplyDeleteI really want to know the story behind soaking her clothes in gasoline. Was she wearing the clothes at the time? Dirty laundry? Clean clothes from the closet? Why the gasoline?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me this would be more than a summary offense. Sounds more like terroristic threats or Causing or risking a catastrophe. All you need was some ignition source and that would have been bad.
DeleteGary Gorman 12:11- I have several similar questions as well, but if she was wearing the clothes at the time of dousing them in gasoline, that bumps up the curiosity.
DeleteLet's get back to basics...a doubt the victim wrote about it on her PFA petition because it he was doing the laundry.
As angry any of us have been with our wife/husband/significant other/etc...who pours gasoline on their possessions?
Who pours gasoline on their spouse's clothes? I know, right? That's some hard-core, Betty Broderick type behavior going on there.
DeleteHe is accused of violating the Temporary PFA. That’s a criminal contempt and a hearing is coming up. Judge Dally has handled this matter disgracefully. Greene should already be fired. He’s an At-Will employee which means he’s owed no job protections legally.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately he won’t be fired. He will be “asked” to resign with his pension in tact from the county and the state!!
DeleteUnfortunately he will not be fired. He will be told it would be in his best interest to resign, keeping both his county and state pension paid to him.
DeleteThere’s no way this guy should ever be permitted back in the Courthouse again.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not like brought drugs into the Courthouse…twice…
DeleteAnd your offer of proof is…..?
DeleteNo suprise this happened.
ReplyDeleteGreene has a lot of enemies and over the years many staff and former staff members have tried to torpedo him.
ReplyDeleteWhile this issue plays out, it’s good to remember that being rude to staff members may make for an unpleasant atmosphere but it’s allowed. Not just in the county but everywhere.
I am not sure why this guy is protected by the Court and the AOPC. He has a PFA filed against him, at least one indirect criminal contempt filed for violating the PFA, and criminal charges. He had a prior DUI for which he went through the ARD program in Monroe County and no action was taken against him by the court at that time. (You may remember a former Court Administrator who was terminated because of a criminal charge that resulted from a domestic incident with his girlfriend.)
ReplyDeleteJJG has hurt so many people based on his perceived code of conduct violations. He has transferred, demoted, suspended, and even terminated employees for much less than he is being accused of. He investigated any allegations by himself and determined that he was both Judge and jury prior to handing down the punishments he recommended.
He has accused employees of having extra marital affairs, when he himself was doing the same. He conducted an investigation, found nothing and still suspended both parties without pay.
He would conduct his own investigations and would report “his” findings to the court without interviewing the person to whom the investigation pertains or anyone who may have information which conflicts with the end result he is seeking. He fails to provide the investigated employee with any specifics surrounding the incidents or behaviors.
However, will write them up for unspecified code of conduct or ethics violations.
When employees are interrogated by JJG they’re told that he knows they are lying because he is “certified in lie detection.” He threatens employees from contacting other employees, their supervisor, and the Judges. He also forbids other employees from contacting the disciplined employee.
I understand Mr. Greene admitted himself into a rehab. Unsure for what, but there is no amount of rehab in the world that can change his bullying behavior and narcissistic personality.
I would hope the court finally recognizes the damage he has done to several employees and to the reputation of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. He should have been terminated immediately as he himself has violated several of the AOPC’s code of conduct rules.
This statement is correct, I’m a victim of his tyrantical behavior.
DeleteYou I and so many more were subjected to his behavior. Most were afraid to speak up because there would have been no consequences and than a target on your back.
DeleteJust like the toxic office manager in the DA's office that was fired
DeleteA mind is a terrible thing to waste. Without proper intervention it only festers.
DeleteDifferent facts. Different case. This isn’t Federal Court. There is no restraining order. The Executive is free to act as she sees fit. If this identical scenario ever arises again, the best you could argue is that there is collateral estoppel and the DA might win that new case. Dally just ordered something that happened 9 months ago. There is no mandamus and there is no contempt available. Tara is not so easily intimidated.
ReplyDeleteAll those who are victims, raise your hands✋✋✋
ReplyDeleteTwice when I was at the Courthouse he put his arms around me when I specifically said do not touch me. He should have been gone a long time ago. He also handled Gag 1 hearings and has no idea about the law! He has been a bully doing whatever he wants to do. He should be fired without full pension
DeleteAs a retired African American county employee , of which there are few, I will say I never had any issues with Jermaine , that said, I tend to only see the good in people, hence my problem with men. I was soooo proud Northampton county had an African American court administrator , the first in both the county and state ! But dam Jermaine you mucked that up, I’m soo disappointed and angry with you dude, wtf! Even in 2026, you know we still have to be twice as good and work twice as hard, it’s sad but true! And don’t come at me for my comments, everyone knows it’s true. And show some compassion for his wife, she still has to work there!
ReplyDeleteI also see the good in others; however if what I’m reading and hearing is half true - Black, White, Hispanic, Court Admin or not - this guy is not a good person period. It goes against humanity not just race…
Delete3:34- If this man put his hands on another man’s wife then he knows what he owes. If he did not, then we better stand up for him. Did this man violate a sacred trust? Now my brother it’s on you. Did he violate a sacred trust?
Delete3:34- its easy to float a check. You better be able to cash it. I’ve asked you a question.
DeleteYou condemned Keegan and called for her resignation for having an opinion and yet you make excuses for not posting about a man pouring gasoline on his wife's clothes and breaking her ribs?! Shame on you for your misogyny. You are an asshole!
ReplyDeleteGo away Koo Koo, you're nuts!
DeleteSomewhat OT, but while this is going on what's up with the Juvenile Justice Center? They are advertising for the Director position, struggling to staff it, and some of our neighboring counties including Lehigh are joining a regional plan.
ReplyDeleteIt is not so off-topic as JJG and his little minion Jamar Billman ever run the place into the ground. Jamar suffers from the same bullying narcissistic personality disorder as JJG and his behavior was backed if not encouraged by JJG
DeletePerhaps Jamar Billman sees the writing on the wall
DeleteAlso not a good human. Apparently he learned from the best. Rumor has it Jamarr will be leaving in October. The JJC was built with a vision of generating income for the county. Briefly, it did. However JJG and JB ran the place into the ground running the facility as they saw fit and not what was in the best interest of the juveniles and their families. They were too busy keeping notes on employees in order to “build a case” against them to ensure their ultimate demise. They are both evil to the core.
DeleteAs a decades long, retired Northampton County Courts employee, I had the displeasure of working under Jermaine Greene. As many prior comments have stated, he is a demeaning bully--especially to women. He has also violated the Judicial Code of Conduct on so many occasions. I experienced this demeaning bullying personally but felt unable to come forward as I was a Court appointed employee, and it was quite clear he had the Judiciary fooled. Mr. Greene should be terminated.
ReplyDeleteThe Court owes mea culpas to so many!!
ReplyDeleteI still felt uncomfortable when JJG was before County Council addressing the Star Chamber and raised his voice at then Councilperson Tara Z. It was cringe worthy back then. Maybe a precursor for what was to come?
ReplyDeleteAs a retiree for several years, and worked under Jermaine. He is a lot of what people say he is. BUT also working under him, I’m surprised that people are taken back that he is using every loop hole he can try to use to save his job. This is classic Jermaine. It won’t work but he will try. Jermaine has always been a bulldog w/no bite. If he knows you know the policies and procedures he always would try to use others to get you fired. But once people pushback and filed a grievance he would try to cover it up. I know first hand his bully tactics. He will eventually have to resign or be fired just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteSo, the McClure headhunters are working hard to get you off the subject of Gracedale and on to a PFA of an employee. AS serious as that topic is to those involved and it is, it is hard to compare to Gracedale.. The county is obligated to care for those in the Home. They are doing a poor job. The McClure gang of top headhunter KraftyKraft. The person who publicly supported Charlie Kirks murder, KOKO K and of course windy Warren who believes in handouts to developers. All under the wing of th previous administrations top chief, Zirinsky. People had hoped she would be more than a rubber stamp, ohh well!
ReplyDeleteGracedale is very important, so the McCluless gang wants to run interference. We have an incompetent Executive, who is fulfilling her obligations to Lamont for putting her in the Executive's office. We have Koo Koo Keegan and Kraft on the advisory committee, both are crazy & lazy, and have no interest in Gracedale, since it requires work. So don't expect anything productive to be done, just lip service and press releases.
ReplyDeleteI know of one female County employee who Jermaine reportedly said during a conversation about court related business that he would, “take her in the back” and do sex-type things to her.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who is doing JJG's job? And don't write the Deputy Director. Because if so, who is doing that person's job? This is going on too long for the Courts to allow this.
ReplyDeleteTo Anon September 27, 10:13 PM and other posters who see County Exec Zrinski lurking behind everything they don't like, I hate to burst your bubble. The County Executive does not supervise the Court Administrator. They are selected by the Court, in the case of Mr. Greene, by then President Judge Baratta, and then become employees of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. No involvement by the County Executive. Maybe try Zrinski is responsible for this week's Nor'easter instead.
ReplyDelete-- Joe Welsh
East Allen Township
As long as he and her continue to do the excellent jobs that they do for the County, leave them alone and stay out of it.
ReplyDeleteBut he is not.doing an excellent job for the County. Read the above notes.
DeleteI have read the above notes and thank you. I’m still waiting for 3:34 to answer a simple question beyond all of the nonsense. Did this man violate a sacred trust or not?
DeleteJermaine has spent years if not decades worming his way to the top. He didn't care who he stepped on, who he hurt, or who he fired. He made it very clear from day 1 when he entered the Juvenile Justice Center that he was so to speak the HNIC....Head N#@%er in Charge. He thrived off being a black man in a powerful position. When he entered the Juvenile Justice Center, first thing he did was make all males Supervisors...one was David C who went from being the Rec Coordinator to a Supervisor over night....mind you he just sat in the shift office shaving his head with the prison issued one blade razors. Now David C isn't allowed to step foot in the Juvenile Center...per Jermaine...lol. Then don't forget how he brought in all of his East Stroudsburg boys to work under him. Some that had never even worked as Youth Care Workers were now Supervisors on various shifts. Let's not forget how wifey came ever day for lunch and walked around like she owned the place. She was so proud of her man then...my how the tables have turned. She wasn't crying about Jermaine when they went on all their cruises....or when he gave her job promotion after promotion. Let's not forget when his sister...from adult probation had it out with the Prison guard who was messing around with her husband and the Easton Police were called but Jermaine got it brushed under the rug. Maybe Meredith, Jermaine's personal secretary knows about his sexual harassment....oh that's right...she enjoys being Jermaine's "other " wife. Ever notice how her office is right in line with his, while the other secretaries in court admin all sit in a generalized location. Meredith has a door with access right into Jermaine's office and I'm sure right into whatever Jermaine asks....I could go on for days....but why should I. We all know he will keep his position....he'll worm his way out of this just like he wormed his way into taking the Court Admin job away from Jill Cicero.
ReplyDelete