Candidate: Brian J. Panella

Court: Northampton County

Party: Democrat and Republican

The following has been edited lightly for length and style.

The Legal: Tell us about your background, where you went to law school, what firms you have practiced at, and areas of law you focus on.

Brian J. Panella: I attended Widener University Delaware Law School, where I served as president of the Student Bar Association and as a lieutenant governor for the American Bar Association. I spent my summers clerking for Justice Correale F. Stevens, reviewing petitions for allocator and preparing drafts of the Justice's opinions.

I have spent my entire professional career with Goudsouzian & Associates, a general practice firm covering multiple legal disciplines. My private practice has armed me with extensive experience in both criminal and civil litigation, wills and estates, and contract disputes. I currently serve as the Bethlehem tax appeal hearing officer, adjudicating tax appeals within the city of Bethlehem. I served as the custody master for Northampton and Lehigh counties, presiding over and settling thousands of custodial disputes. In particular circumstances I would sit as the hearing officer, taking testimony on the record, making factual and legal determinations, and producing decisions that would then become binding on the parties. I have the pleasure of serving as the solicitor for Bethlehem City Council, the largest city in Northampton County. I have also served as solicitor for a number of other municipalities, including Northampton Borough, Bethlehem Township, and North Catasauqua Borough. Trusted by my municipal law colleagues, I am frequently asked to serve as a conflicts and/or stand-in solicitor in other municipalities, including Bethlehem Township.

I currently serve as solicitor for the Northampton County Retirees Association, a legal service I provide pro bono. I previously served as the deputy solicitor for Children and Youth, investigating and pursuing instances of physical abuse against children.

The Legal: What is one major thing about your career experience that most qualifies you for this position, and why?

Panella: Having served as a custody master and a tax appeal hearing officer, I have quasi-judicial experience that is directly related to the Court of Common Pleas. I have presided over and settled thousands of actions. I have presided over hearings on the record and have made decisions on the minute-to-minute action of a hearing, from ruling on objections to weighing the evidence and believability of witnesses.

With an over 90% settlement rating in two separate counties plus my experience as a presiding hearing officer, I have a unique and particular foundation that will best serve the people of Northampton County as their next judge.

The Legal: What is the main reason Pennsylvania voters should pick you?

Panella: Voters can have faith that a vote for me is a vote for someone with comprehensive experience in strictly applying the law in all circumstances. I understand the impact that one decision can make. In my roles as a hearing officer, I have found myself in the position of making life-altering decisions, whether it be deciding the ongoing custodial schedule for a child or adjudicating an outstanding tax appeal for a Bethlehem resident. This vital experience, coupled with my comprehensive legal practice and commitment to my community, makes me the most qualified candidate to serve as judge for Northampton County.

The Legal: What will be your approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system?

Panella: I have a long-documented history of success as a hearing officer, preparing settlement orders and providing those same orders to litigants within a timely manner. In the event of a contested hearing, I make myself as immediately available to the litigants as possible, a practice that has frequently promised an effective and timely resolution. Moving matters forward and towards a resolution must always be paramount, as any unfair delay is an attack on an individual's right to equal due process.

The Legal: What would you say to voters regarding your plans to ensure the equal administration of justice for all people?

Panella: It is a judge's responsibility to decide each case on its own merits and follow the rule of law in all situations. As a hearing officer, I have repeatedly shown my ability to equally apply the law to all parties, ensuring that all parties receive a fair opportunity to be heard. As an attorney, I have worked tirelessly to guarantee due process for my clients, protecting their constitutionally provided rights. As a judge, I will continue to work with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to the appropriate administration of justice.

The Legal: Where can voters go for more information about you?

Panella: Panella4Judge.com https://www.facebook.com/PanellaforJudge