Building Justice
We can build a county that is safe and justice-oriented through the principles of restorative, fair, and accessible justice for all.
Restorative
Restorative justice requires taking a holistic approach to the matter at hand, whether it be making a plaintiff whole in a civil matter, delivering meaningful diversionary programs to a defendant in a criminal matter, utilizing fine and fee workshops, or crafting creative solutions for at-risk youth. Judges have many tools available to them to help resolve matters in their court, and in my time as a jurist, I have learned what those tools are and how to effectively use them.
Fair
Fairness requires a judge to deliver on many fronts: being dignified, equitable, impartial, and patient, among others. As a former teacher, mayor, councilman, and as a sitting judge, I have always been aware of the needs of the people I serve. We know that disparities exist in our justice system and we must be attuned to address those disparities by striving to deliver due process to all parties appearing before the courts and ensuring that they are also treated equitably.
Accessible
Access to the courts is foundational to our justice system. I frequently remind parties appearing before me that justice delayed is justice denied. At the District Court and Common Pleas level, that means ensuring the indigent parties can be heard. As a district judge, I have increased accessibility to the courts by introducing a monthly night court session for juvenile cases to avoid pulling them out of school and for parties who cannot afford to take off a day of work. We also stagger cases by scheduling matters over a period of time, instead of all at once. Finally, we utilize remote technology when requested and when reasonable.