Maybe we do need a Law School here in NEPA because it seems Luzerne
County has a tremendous lack of qualified lawyers who enter the political arena. To be fair though, this area does have some excellent lawyers, and three of them appeared on State of Pennsylvania, Thursday Feb 8th on WVIA. Attorneys Tom O'Connor (Bishop O'Reilly), Jerry Langan (Seton Catholic), and Dave Pedri (Bishop Hafey) represented individual Catholic School supporter groups who are seeking logical explanations concerning the future of Catholic education in Luzerne County. All three men did a great job while the Catholic Church refused to comment. Of note is how Luzerne County will lose the traditions of four regional Catholic high schools (The other being Bishop Hoban) and form one new Catholic high school (Holy Redeemer). Lackawanna County is also under going changes but seem to have a much better system of inclusion. All student currently in grades 9th, 10th, and 11th will be allowed to attend their schools until graduation while students coming from Lackawanna County feeder schools will be sent to a new Catholic school. Hopefully the Church and these faithful support groups will find common ground soon.
The point though of having weak lawyers involved in politics is stronger this year than usual. Dave Lupas is getting some help from above and all around by not having a serious opponent which leaves us with a Judgeship being filled not by the most
qualified but filled by the only candidate people have heard of before.
Tom Marsillio only has negative name ID, while Dave Lupas has some positives as a nice guy. Neither have a reputation of being good lawyers. Where's someone like Atty. Joe Cosgrove when the county needs him? Another pathetic excuse of an election will be the choice for District Attorney, while Luzerne County Republicans don't have a candidate since Commissioner hopeful and Chief Deputy Sheriff Art Bobbouine can't pass the bar exam (failed 7 times), Democrats get to keep the seat and it goes to a weak lawyer who only has her name to prop her up in this race. Jackie Musto-Carroll is counting on her Uncle Senator Ray Musto to provide lots of muscle and also her relation through marriage State Rep. Mike Carroll to help her become the county's first female DA. Sadly the alternative to her is Vito DeLuca , a criminal defense attorney with no name ID and seems to be running just because every qualified lawyer is afraid to upset the political climate in Luzerne County.
Will voters wake up in time for the election? And if they do will they have
a viable alternative to the leaders we know all too well?
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3 comments:
Very insightful article on Lawyers in Luzerne County. When I was a kid, I had an uncle who used to rail about Lawyers that salivated over school board solicitorships. He'd yell, "They're starving, they're making less than a the guy in the ACME." I thought he was nuts. But as I got older, I became socially involved with an associate at a local firm. She was barely breaking 20 grand. She moved back home and last I heard is doing well. But think about it, a lot of the Judgeships are filled by default or partisan campaigns that are unseemly for a Judge. Remember how Mike Conahan buried Joe Musto in a campaign years ago? As far as a Joe Cosgrove goes, unfortunately, they'd kill him. Remember Atty. Charles McCormick? Buried. Because of personal circumstances I've come across many lawyers the last few years. The ones I used were pretty good but the rest I've met will take the path of least resistance. It really begs the question if the majority of them are just stupid or plain lazy? Name me one Attorney in this area willing to take an age discimination or employment issue case? They couldn't be bothered but they'll try to talk you into a disability claim because again, that's the easier path.
And as far as Art Bob goes, if he passes he'd be one of the best. Why? He knows the pain and disappoiintment of failure, not the privileged hot shot persona of most of the barristers in this county who try to impress you with the fact that they can get out of a speeding ticket and get invited to Conahan's chambers at Christmas for Shrimp Scampi. Uh guys, gals, talk to me when you can grow a set and return a phone call.
Dave,
Great comment. In our humble opinion, both Joe Cosgrove and Charlie McCormick are excellent attorneys who have far more integrity than the current bench-bound set. This may be the life we choose, but we should be served better by the pols we have now.
I hate to disappoint everyone, but Art Bobbouine only failed the bar exam twice.
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