Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Allegheny County Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Retention)

Term: 10 years

Salary: $121,225

Duties: The Court of Common Pleas is primarily a trial court. There are four divisions of the Court of Common Pleas: civil, criminal, orphans' and family. The judges can be assigned from one division to another as needed.

Question: Do you have any specific suggestions for improving the administration of justice in Allegheny County?

Ronald W. Folino, 49, Fox Chapel

Education: Dickinson School of Law, 1981 (admitted to Woolsack Society for Academic Excellence); Penn State University, 1976 (graduated with high distinction)

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas

Qualifications: Demonstrated diligence and fairness in the job; outstanding judicial temperament.

Answer: I am proud to be joining Robert P. Horgos, Kathleen R. Mulligan, Lawrence J. O'Toole, Alan S. Penkower and John A. Zottola, who along with me are running for retention as judges of the Court of Common Pleas. The opportunity to serve the citizens of Allegheny County is an honor that we do not take and will never take lightly. We understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with our judicial positions, and we remain committed to fulfilling our responsibility to ensuring that all parties who come before us are treated with the utmost dignity, fairness and respect. We thank the citizens of Allegheny County for providing us the privilege of serving them, and we would consider it an honor to continue serving them.

Robert P. Horgos, 55, Sewickley Hills

Education: B.S. economics and accounting, Villanova University; J.D. Villanova Law School, 1973.

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas and statewide Court of Judicial Discipline.

Qualifications: Twenty years' experience as judge in criminal and civil divisions handling complex litigation as toxic torts and class actions; former member Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee; former priority prosecutor, district attorney's office, and former trial defender.

Answer: I am proud to be joining Judges Folino, Mulligan, O'Toole, Penkower and Zottola, who along with me are running for retention as judges. The opportunity to serve the citizens of Allegheny County is an honor that we do not take and will never take lightly. We understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with our judicial positions, and we remain committed to fulfilling our responsibility to ensuring that all parties who come before us are treated with the utmost dignity, fairness and respect. I have been a judge on the Common Pleas Court for the past 20 years and have presided over thousands of cases. I feel that experience, fairness and justice are absolutely critical to the ongoing success of our judicial system.

Kathleen R. Mulligan, 49, Swissvale

Education: B.A., Bucknell; J.D., University of Pittsburgh

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas

Qualifications: 10 years of judicial service; 1998 "Woman of the Year" University of Pittsburgh Law School Women's Association; 2000 Service Award, National Council of Jewish Women; 2000 Pro Bono Judicial Achievement Award; 2002 Service/Leadership Award, Juvenile Court Judges Commission; 2002 Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Award

Answer: I am proud to be joining Ronald Folino, Robert P. Horgos, Lawrence O'Toole, Alan Scott Penkower and John A. Zottola, who along with me are running for retention as judges of the Court of Common Pleas. The opportunity to serve the citizens of Allegheny County is an honor that we do not take and will never take lightly. We understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with our judicial positions, and we remain committed to fulfilling our responsibility by ensuring that all parties who come before us are treated with the utmost dignity, fairness and respect. I have been a judge on the Common Pleas Court for the past 10 years and have presided over hundreds of cases. I feel that experience, fairness and justice are absolutely critical to the ongoing success of our judicial system.

Lawrence Joseph O'Toole, 53, Highland Park

Education: B.S., La Salle College; J.D., Duquesne University

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas

Qualifications: 18 years practicing attorney; 11 years sitting judge

Answer: The court of Allegheny County must be more proactive in helping to make the public aware of the importance of an independent judiciary to aid in the administration of justice. The court must conduct itself at all times with an understanding of its role in our society and accordingly, both on and off the court and bench.

Alan S. Penkower, 61, Squirrel Hill

Education: B.A., Brandeis University; J.D., New York University School of Law

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County

Qualifications: Over 30 years' judicial experience; judge of Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County 1983-present; chief magistrate, city of Pittsburgh, 1979-1983; Pittsburgh Housing Court magistrate, 1972-1983

Answer: The continued success of our judicial system depends on experienced judges who dispense justice fairly and impartially under the law. In my 30+ years on the bench I have presided over thousands of cases and have strived to protect the rights of all persons who have come before me by treating them with dignity, respect and fairness. I and my fellow judges who are running for retention as judges of the Court of Common Pleas are committed to continuing to fulfill our responsibilities to the citizens of Allegheny County, whom it has been an honor to serve.

John A. Zottola, 46, O'Hara

Education: 1975 graduate Central Catholic High School; 1979 graduate University of Pittsburgh; 1982 graduate University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County

Qualifications: 1982-1989, Allegheny County assistant district attorney specializing in prosecution of sexual assault cases; 1989-1993, chairman, Zoning Board of Adjustment, city of Pittsburgh; vice chairman, Planning Commission, city of Pittsburgh; associate, Robb, Leonard & Mulvihill law firm.

Answer: I am proud to be joining Judges Ronald Folino, Robert Horgos, Kathleen Mulligan, Lawrence O'Toole and Alan Penkower, who along with me are running for retention as judges of the Court of Common Pleas. The opportunity to serve the citizens of Allegheny County is an honor that we do not take and will never take lightly. We understand the tremendous responsibility that comes with our judicial positions, and we remain committed to fulfilling our responsibility by ensuring that all parties who come before us are treated with the utmost dignity, fairness and respect. We thank the citizens of Allegheny County for providing us the privilege of serving them, and we would consider it an honor to continue serving them.

Allegheny County Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

Term: 10 years

Salary: $121,225

Duties: The Court of Common Pleas is primarily a trial court. There are four divisions of the Court of Common Pleas: civil, criminal, orphans' and family. The judges can be assigned from one division to another as needed.

Question: Do you have any specific suggestions for improving the administration of justice in Allegheny County?

David N. Wecht, 41, Squirrel Hill

Education: Yale University, B.A. 1984, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa; Yale University, J.D. 1987, Notes Editor, The Yale Law Journal

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County

Qualifications: Serving by gubernatorial appointment since February 11, 2003; judge trials daily; merit-selected by Gov. Rendell and Gov. Schweiker; highly recommended by Allegheny County Bar Association; adjunct professor, Duquesne Law School; register of wills & clerk of Orphans' Court 1998-2003

Answer: Widen search mechanism to ensure juries are more representative of county population. Encourage media to expose citizens to court operations. Implement programs for elementary and high school students to learn about courts, law enforcement, jail, morgue and other justice-related functions. Establish program for judges and court personnel to give talks around the county concerning justice system. Lobby Pennsylvania Legislature to provide adequate funding for courts and administration of justice.

Christine Ward, 46, Shadyside

Education: Washington and Jefferson College; University of Pittsburgh Law School

Occupation: Sitting judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell

Qualifications: 20 years of trial experience in civil litigation; "highly recommended" by bar association; instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy at the University of Pittsburgh Law School.

Answer: It has been my experience as a litigator and arbitrator that alternative dispute resolution can be one of the most effective and efficient means of adjudication or resolving a legal matter and can also significantly reduce legal costs. The administration of justice would be improved if the judiciary encouraged and provided for more opportunity for alternative dispute resolution. Such an improvement would be advantageous to the public because it would diminish ever-increasing legal fees and at the same time allow for a fair and speedy hearing or mediation.

Alan Hertzberg, 46, Crafton Heights

Education: B.A. in economics and English, Union College; J.D. cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Law Review member 1981-83)

Occupation: Pittsburgh city councilman; attorney

Qualifications: Attorney for 20 years with trial experience in criminal, civil, juvenile family divisions; public service experience on City Council deciding issues impacting public safety.

Answer: The jury pool in Allegheny County needs to be representative of the county's actual population in order to ensure unbiased jury trials. Public education programs in schools and churches to make residents aware of the importance of serving as a juror could help to achieve this. Common Pleas Court judges should always act to safeguard the public against dangerous criminals, make certain that control is maintained in courtrooms, be patient, polite and respectful to jurors, victims, witnesses, litigants and attorneys as well as make certain that court proceedings move along promptly so to limit extended waiting periods for all those involved. Additionally, judges should always be fair and impartial and allow all litigants to present relevant evidence and have their full day in court.

David N. Wecht, See above

Christine Ward, See above

Jill Rangos, 43, Indiana Twp

Education: Dickinson College, B.A., English and political science, 1981; Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, J.D., 1984, Law Review

Occupation: Judge, Court of Common Pleas

Qualifications: Nominated by Gov. Mark Schweiker and appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell; experienced trial lawyer; former U.S. District Court judicial law clerk; nine years on National Center for Juvenile Justice Board; co-president of Women's Bar Association.

Answer: My experience as a judge in the family division, juvenile section, has highlighted for me the need to address scheduling issues to reduce the length of time children and their families, police officers, school officials, medical experts and others spend waiting for their cases to be called. With each judge assigned to juvenile court handling over 1,400 cases last year, block scheduling is used to eliminate judicial downtime. Since that system often results in prolonged delays for litigants, we must work to develop a more efficient schedule that meets the needs of judicial administration without unduly inconveniencing the participants.

Correction/Clarification: (Published Oct. 29, 2003) Alan Hertzberg, candidate for Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, resides in Crafton Heights. Tuesday's guide listed an incorrect neighborhood.

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