Candidate for
Justice; Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Republican Party

I am seeking this nomination to bring reform throughout the entire state court system and change the attitude from business as usual to the people's business. And, it is within the Philadelphia Courthouse that my record best demonstrates why I have the judicial temperament and skill to bring to the Supreme Court.

When the Supreme Court in 1996, selected me as the Administrative Judge of this Court, I focused on bringing change that would result in a better Family Court system. Family Court needed leadership and a new attitude to tackle the sometimes-tragic individual problems that come through the doors of this courthouse everyday. I could not truly serve the people with a "business as usual attitude". The Court needed to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Our vision was to change the direction of Family Court by starting innovative programs that responded to problems and offer real life solutions.

Truancy is but the first step and out ward sign that a young person is beginning to slide to the other side of the law. Project S.T.A.R.T. brought the courtroom to the individual schools. Truancy is no longer addressed in a distant courtroom with a Judge who had little "hands on" contact with the student.

And, Project S.T.A.R.T. also brought the parents into the process. We demanded that parents and students work together. And, we went one step further enlisting the help of the business community to provide job opportunities for students and parents + attacking the root causes of truancy and delinquency. We helped to keep young men and women in the classroom and off the street corners. Counties throughout Pennsylvania, and on a national level, have taken this innovative model and adapted it for their own communities.

Everyday, neglected and abused children, come into the court system and- before the Model Court program was initiated + different judges without coordination handled their various legal matters separately. Now + one judge brings together all the agencies involved and handles all court matters for a single child + providing early and quick intervention.

Many citizens complained about the secrecy of the domestic relations court. In 2000, we implemented and agreed to "open access" for the public in domestic relations courtrooms while still protecting the rights of the individual.

We have proven that when such changes were implemented in the Family Court + they actually work. We held the line on our budget and held all accountable and responsible to work together to make the system better for the citizens we serve in the court.

We cut truancy rates. Neglected children were no longer bounced from one judge to another. We involved the private sector + helping to save kids before they slipped to the other side of the law.

Today, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania not only represents the final authority in deciding cases + it also serves an equally important role in the Administration of Justice, in some cases by selecting the Administrative Judges of lower courts and by promulgating the direction, the rules and the process for the entire court system.

As a Justice on the Supreme Court, I believe that I can make a difference. I will work with my fellow Justices to bring about changes that would make the ourt "accountable" and accessible for the ordinary citizen and work for a better more unified Judicial System.

I left Family Court in 2002 and began a new assignment in the Civil Trial Division. In January 2006, I was given the position as Coordinating Judge of the Complex Litigation Center. This unit handles about 65% of the total Civil Trial Division inventory. As Coordinating Judge, I oversee the mass tort claims filed in Philadelphia as well as administering and instituting policies and programs which dispose of large numbers of cases.

And we worked hard to get the job done + 10,000 cases reduced to 2,500 cases in one year + a major accomplishment.

A Supreme Court with Justices dedicated to initiating change throughout the entire state court system could change the attitude from "business as usual" + to the "people's business."

In my role as a Common Pleas Court Judge I have worked as an independent jurist. Not beholden to the party state committee but to the people and voters to whom I am accountable. A Justice of Pennsylvania must ignore special interests and special groups and decide cases based on the law and what the Constitution says. Remember-Judges do not make laws-legislators do.

Many years ago we began to emphasize the importance of openness/transparency in our court system here in Family Court. We did this because we believe we are accountable and answer to the people. This openness was part of a dialogue and discussion to be responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens. Programs we initiated reflect passion and a caring attitude for people, for keeping families together and upholding traditional family values. We increased adoptions threefold and we fought crime. We tried to offer solutions for problems and you knew if you committed the crime you would do the time. We made it clear we would not tolerate violations and disrespect for the rule of law. Our management style, approach and philosophy was carried out by our mantra and we did practice what we preached (teamwork) Together Everyone Accomplishes More TEAM

In short, the administration of justice should not be left only to the legal professionals. The Supreme Court should be the advocate in reaching out into the community for the knowledge and suggestions to improve the system. This will happen only if there is leadership at the top that will not accept the old way of doing things.

I am campaigning to bring these ideas across the state; first to Republican voters in the May primary, and then to all Pennsylvanians in November. I hope we can have thoughtful and meaningful discussions of new ideas and attitudes + that put the needs of the citizens first + and the old way of doing things last.

Just as we changed the attitudes of Philadelphia Family Court + for the better + by taking positive steps to care about kids first + so too we can change the court system throughout the Commonwealth by having the symbol of justice serve the people first.