Richard Yetter Needs Anger Management, Not a Judgeship

Richard "King of Law" Yetter likes to tell everyone he's the only attorney among three candidates for District Judge in Wilson Borough, West Easton and a tiny sliver of Easton. And it's true, he's got Rhonda Elias and Shana Restucci beat on that one. But in every other way, Yetter has gone out of his way to demonstrate that he's nutz. Instead of being elected to a judgeship, he should be sent to the nearest state hospital for evaluation. His campaign has been ugly from beginning to end, demonstrating he completely lacks the judicial temperament needed in that sensitive position. Shana and Rhonda, two class acts, are a far better choice.

It started in January, before Restucci ever announced her candidacy. Yetter fired off a "lawyer letter" accusing her of defaming him. The funny thing about that is that, aside from him, nobody could seem to remember anyone saying anything negative about him.

Later that month, Yetter sent out a campaign solicitation to "Esteemed Members of the Bar," idiotically telling them, "Your donation is tax deductible and the committee will mail out receipts for your tax records." Gee, that sure sounds like the kind of mistake a nonlawyer would make.

Then, in a post announcing Rhonda Elias' candidacy, she was attacked because she owns no real estate. Yetter's wife, Donna, slammed both of his opponents because they have no law degree. When her comment went into a spam folder through some dictate of the Blogging Gods, I found myself attacked anonymously for deleting a comment that was actually hung up in cyber space.

Next thing I know, Restucci is attacked again, this time because her brother planted one of her campaign signs at her father's grave site as a tribute. She certainly wasn't going to get any votes doing that, but the Yetter camp tried to use it as a political tool.

But it does not stop there. Yetter actually staged a video in which a campaign worker supposedly calls him in the middle of an interview to complain about sign theft.

He should lose the race just for lousy acting.

Now, on Election Eve, he's finally gone over the edge. His takes a Shana Restucci campaign video and loads it up with all kinds of insinuations about her life as a cheerleading coach at Wilson High School. He then slams Stan Margle, her campaign manager. Stan was nice enough to donate $500 to Yetter, giving to the opposition. This is something classy lawyers do in judicial races.

Stan's check, along with his account number and signature, was posted on Youtube for the entire world to see in close-up mode.

Can you say identity theft? This is a future District Judge? It's totally irresponsible.

You can go to the best law school in the world, but that means nothing if you have no common sense. Posting all this personal information about one of his own contributors reveals that Yetter has none.

Oh yeah, Stan is also called one of Yetter's "biggest campaign doners[sic]." All that education must have really paid off.

In the course of writing this post, Yetter campaign staffer Michael Laws sent me an email about how fair he's been. I let him know, in no uncertain terms, what I thought of that last campaign video, which was accompanied by the defrocked monk music of Orff's Carmina Burana. That disgusting video was finally deleted, but only after I complained.

Both Restucci and Elias are wonderful candidates who have had the misfortune of enduring an irresponsible bully in the form of Richard Yetter. Hopefully, voters will send him back to his home in Hanover Township.

Getting the Cemetery Vote

I used to take my grandson's dog for walks in a cemetery located close to his house. It gave her a chance to romp and run after rabbits and squirrels in an urban community. None of the residents complained. I certainly meant no disrespect. I always cleaned up.

Regardless of my intentions, I was being disrespectful and ignorant, not to the dead, but the family members who would visit. I found that out when one of them yelled at me. He was in grief, and should not have had to deal with some dog darting between the tombstones.

People do strange things in graveyards. Jews like to pile small stones atop the marker for each visit made. At one gravestone, I once saw a six-pack, supposedly for the Great Beyond.

Instead of a six-pack, District Judge candidate Shana Restucci's brother posted one of her campaign signs on her dad's grave site. As Shana explains it, "Shad [that's her brother] did it out of no disrespect to anything or anybody. He did it because my dad would be proud of me, because my dad always wanted me to run for this position if the opportunity ever arose. He did it because my dad would be my biggest supporter."

Sign or not, I don't think she'll be getting her dad's vote.

Unfortunately for Shana, Rich Yetter campaign treasurer Lewis Gruppo saw the sign, snapped a picture, and posted it on Facebook. He complains about her lack of respect for the dead, and follows that with a definition of "temperament." He never bothers explaining why he found it necessary to post a picture that is so disrespectful.

Donna Yetter, who just happens to be married to District Judge candidate Richard Yetter, weighs in. "No words can even describe how wrong this is."

I have to admit, this is a new one for me. I believe that Shana's brother, Shad, was trying to give his Dad a message, and had no desire to be disrespectful. It's probably a lot less offensive than letting a dog run wild. On the other hand, political signs offend most people, no matter where they are.

Updated 10 AM: An Ex-candidate Speaks. - "I actually understand Shana Restucci's brother's actions no matter how different they might be. When I ran for xxxxxxx, I had my official campaign portrait done ... with an American Flag behind me, not because it makes me patriotic or because I served our country ( I was not in the military), but I did it to honor my father's memory as a tip of the hat to his military service in WW II and Korea and for his patriotism in doing so. Make no mistake about that, I'd have done it if he were still alive as well, just out of his son's respect for his service. So I understand the Restucci's desire to connect her candidacy to their father, and others should pause a moment before they try to use it as a political tool."

District Judge Candidate Dick Yetter Blasts Single Moms

In a supposed judicial campaign that is increasingly becoming a comedy of errors, Wilson Borough DJ candidate Richard "I'm a lawyer" Yetter is now taking aim at single moms. At a recent meeting of Easton Democrats, Yetter asks, "How would everybody in this room like a single mother who has to be at home at 4:30 PM to chase her kids around the dining room table?"

The room gasped.

Don't take my word for it. Among those present were Easton City Council members Ken Brown, Sandy Vulcano and Eli Warner. Ask them.

Yetter is running against Shana Restucci and Rhonda Elias. Nonlawyers, they don't belong to the penis club, either. Unlike Yetter, they're not little Dicks.

Collections lawyer Yetter has consistently demonstrated that he lacks pretty much all of the qualities we look for in judges. Before the race got uder way, he tried to scare off one potential rival by threatening her with defamation. This legal scholar followed that up by falsely telling lawyers that their campaign contributions are tax deductible. Now we have his slam at single moms.

Yetter did not stop there. He told Easton Democrats that one of his opponents, Shana Restucci, "did not vote for Barack Obama." How he would know that is beyond me. His other rival, Rhonda Elias, is even worse than Shana. She's an Evil Republican! His criticism of both Restucci and Elias is a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which condemns political activity inappropriate to the office.

On his web page, Yetter claims to have the endorsement of Lehigh Valley Advocacy for Men and Families. According to the FaceBook page for that group, it's a nonprofit that really should not be endorsing political candidates. This group did not respond to my inquiries.

Yetter Should Drop Judicial Race for Quoits

Let me explain something about comments on this blog. Nearly 100% of the time, you can post a comment, it will appear and I am automatically sent an email notification. But sometimes, although I still get an email notification, a comment goes right into blogspot's spam folder. It's rare, but it happens, especially when I'm getting lots of comments or somebody comments on a post that is several days old. It happened last night in a comment about the Wilson Borough mini-judge race, and sheds light on some disturbing and intemperate characteristics of one of the candidates.

So far, this contest stars Rhonda Elias, Shana Restucci and Richard "I'm a lawyer" Yetter. On my left sidebar, I have links for each of these candidates. Who knows? There may be more candidates in the days to come.

This one has been one nasty judicial race. Before Shana Restucci ever even announced, Yetter was threatening her with defamation. Then, when I posted about her candidacy, the attacks became so vicious I had to suspend comments.

On Monday, after telling you about Elias' candidacy, the anonymous slurs began again. One of the landed gentry attacks Elias because she owns no real estate. Both Elias and Restucci are snarked because they lack law degrees.

Last night, Donna "I'm married to a lawyer" Yetter decided to post a comment (read it here) claiming her husband, a lawyer, is the only qualified candidate. I got the usual email notification, but was on my way to a Bethlehem ZHB meeting and never checked the blog.

I was writing up my posts for the next day when, at 11:29 PM, I got this "anonymous" comment: "So what's up Bernie? If someone actually posts their name and an informative response to people's questions you take their post off? I don't get it. Are you only interested in stirring up trouble, or do you actually want people to know the truth?"

I checked my blogspot spam folder and, sure enough, Donna Yetter's remark was there. It had never appeared on my blog. I published it immediately, noting what had happened. But it bothers me that one of the Yetters had obviously commented anonymously. Is this kind of deception appropriate in a judicial campaign? Also, I was prejudged. Instead of waiting for the facts about the spam comment problem, as a good judge would do, I was accused and convicted of deleting a Yetter comment.

After all this, Richard "I really am a lawyer" Yetter decided to pop on this blog and claim that a comment identified by blogspot as spam had really, really, really appeared on my blog and then mysteriously ended up in my spam folder (read it here). "Before I left home for my quoit match tonight, her post did appear here on your blog."

Who the hell plays quoits in the Winter?

Well, Richard may be an attorney, but he's wrong. If blogspot recognizes a comment as spam, it goes into a spam folder without ever having been published. There is no way that he or his wife ever saw that comment.

By the way, Yetter's own comment went right into blogspot's spam folder. It failed to appear on my blog. I had to go to my folder and order it published.

As someone who has a law degree, I can tell you that most attorneys make lousy district judges. We have no common sense, a characteristic demanded in the minor judiciary. The best magistrates I've seen have always been nonlawyers.

What Yetter has displayed, over and over, is poor judicial temperament. He switched houses with his mom so he could claim residency. He threatened a candidate with defamation before she even announced. Another gets slammed because, in addition to being a nonlawyer, she is not a member of the landed gentry. He idiotically sent out a campaign mailer telling potential contributors their donations were tax deductible. And now, he or his wife attacks me anonymously for deleting a comment that was actually detected as spam.

Maybe he should consider becoming a professional quoit player, but he lacks the temperament to be a judge on any level.

And Richard, if you want to threaten me with defamation, there's a long line in front of you.

Yetter Letter Claims Contributions Tax Deductible

Attorney Rich Yetter would like to succeed Michael Koury as Wilson Borough and West Easton's mini-judge. Like many lawyers running for that kind of job, Yetter considers his law degree an asset. So it's no surprise that Yetter would send a fundraising letter to his colleagues in the Northampton County Bar. But it would probably help him more if he had the law right.

In a letter to the "Esteemed Members of the Bar" dated January 26, Yetter campaign treasurer Lewis Gruppo incorrectly states, "Your donation is tax deductible and the committee will mail out receipts for your tax records." Most nonlawyers can tell you that you get no deduction for a campaign contribution.

Contacted yesterday, Yetter immediately acknowledged the error. A clarification will be sent to Northampton County lawyers today.

Former Wilson Homecoming Queen Wants to Be a Mini-Judge

What the hell is a magistrate anyway? A few year ago, I called them mini-judges. Sure, they get to wear those black dresses, but can't even sentence you to death. What fun is that? Worse, they must face the voters every six years. No ten year retentions for them! And on a rotating basis, they must be available 24/7.

I know them all. Over the years, I've accumulated so many parking tickets that they all get to meet me sooner or later. The big judges' website includes a detailed description of a mini-judge's daily duties: "District Justices have jurisdiction over minor criminal offenses, traffic offenses, landlord/tenant matters and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $8000.00. In misdemeanor and felony cases, District Justices have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants, hold preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings and set bail. They also have authority to perform marriages, handle protection from abuse matters and issue subpoenas. They also may impose summary punishments for criminal contempt." Annual salary? $80,927. No overhead. Full benefits.

Shana Restucci, a former Wilson High School Homecoming Queen, yesterday announced her candidacy for mini-judge in Judge Koury's old magisterial district, which includes Wilson, West Easton and a slice of Easton.

After graduating from Wilson in 1990, Shana earn her associate's degree in legal administration two years later, and began working for a soft-spoken and brilliant young lawyer who had a tendency to disappear all the time for stints in the Navy. That lawyer is now Judge (smile when you say that) Edward Smith, who is also a Field Marshall or something in the Navy Reserve. He still disappears to places like Iraq. Shana still works for him. She's had a good mentor.

The one thing that has always set Northampton County judges apart is their tradition of treating everyone with courtesy and respect. They may sometimes fail, but that's the goal. Not every bench is like that. It appears that Restucci will try her best to follow that example. In her campaign announcement, she pledges to treat all with courtesy, patience and dignity. "Above all, I will ensure that all who come before me are treated with dignity and respect."

Restucci resides in West Easton and her two children attend Avona Elementary School. She volunteers at the school and for little league.

Because she is a judicial employee, she will have to resign her position with Judge Smith once she starts circulating her nomination petitions on February 15. "Judge Smith has been my boss, mentor and friend for the last 19 years and my one regret is that I must resign as his judicial secretary to run for this position."

Restucci will cross-file. Her web page will go up soon, and when it does, I'll link to it. Her sole opponent so far is Richard Yetter, but stay tuned.

I think I was a Homecoming Queen, too.

Yetter Threatens Potential Rival With Defamation Suit

Last week, I told you about Richard Yetter's candidacy for District Judge covering Wilson Borough, West Easton, and a sliver of Easton. He's by no means alone. One name being batted around is Mike Fleck, who does have considerable experience in magisterial district court ... as a Defendant. Another name being mentioned is Shana Restucci, who works at the Courthouse as a secretary to Judge Edward Smith.

This race is getting nasty before it's even started. Yetter, who has no experience in politics, has already had someone fire off a "lawyer letter" to Restucci, threatening her with defamation. The missive, followed by Resticci's response, is below.

"Lawyer Letter" to Potential Yetter Rival

To my knowledge, no Yetter stories were being whispered down the Courthouse alley. All Yetter has managed to do is appear to be a bit thin-skinned, not the best quality in a judicial race.

Incidentally, there is no PFA against Yetter, and he has resided with his family in Wilson Borough since the end of last Summer, despite owning a home in Hanover Tp. He tells me he even had a County Detective visit his Wilson home for coffee in October, knowing this would be an issue. He also mentioned he needs a bigger home because his wife is expecting.

Restucci is expected to formally announce on Friday. A judicial employee, she will have to resign once she starts circulating a petition.

Att'y Rich Yetter To Seek Magisterial Seat Vacated By Judge Koury

A Wilson Borough lawyer has announced his candidacy for the position of magisterial district judge covering Wilson Borough, West Easton Borough, and the 7th and 8th Wards of the City of Easton.

Richard H. Yetter III, who was born and raised in Wilson Borough, is seeking to fill the seat that became vacant when Michael Koury, Jr., was elected as Judge to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas in 2009.

Yetter says he is pursuing the position to maintain the high level of professionalism and legal aptitude that the community has come to expect.

“My wife Donna and I are proud to be part of this community, and are looking forward to raising our son in an area that values safe and secure neighborhoods.”

A 1996 graduate of Wilson Area High School, Yetter received his Bachelor of Science degree after graduating with Honors from Slippery Rock University in 2000. He graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2003. After becoming admitted to both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Bars that same year, he began work as an Associate to Raymond J. DeRaymond. In January of 2004, he started his own solo practice, which he believes has given him the extensive courtroom experience and qualifications he needs to serve.

“I have represented clients as both plaintiffs and defendants for every type of case that is heard at the magisterial district court level. The people of a community should be able to expect their district judge to possess the essential knowledge, training, and experience before rendering a legal decision,” he says.

Dick's campaign web page is here. If you'd like more information, you can call Donna at 610-751-6727.