![]() ![]() Lisa Middleman, who challenged District Attorney Stephen Zappala in 2019 and has been a standard-bearer for justice reform ever since, was assigned to the family division’s juvenile section. But Watson was the only member of the slate to be placed on the criminal bench. Five members of the slate won races in the Democratic primary last spring, and all five of those won seats in November. Watson was one member of a “Slate of 8” backed this past spring by progressives who wanted to change the county’s approach to criminal justice. Current Judge Jennifer Satler will be transferred from family court to the criminal division. ![]() They will be joined by Thomas Caufield and Wrenna Watson, both of whom were elected this past year. The 10 candidates elected to Allegheny County Common Pleas judgeships this fall have been assigned to their courtrooms - and though several campaigned on a platform to reform criminal justice, only one is set to actually begin hearing criminal cases.īut activists who helped those candidates elected may get the last word in future election cycles.īruce Beemer and Elliot Howsie, who'd been appointed to fill earlier vacancies and were running this year for full terms, will return to their posts in the criminal division. You can contact Paula via email at or via Twitter. Paula Reed Ward is a Contributor to the Tribune-Review. ![]() “If there’s a problem along the way that I can’t get the job done, I’ll let you guys know.” “I really don’t want to talk about my health. He was repeatedly asked about the length of his absence, but he deflected these questions and said he was in good health. Zappala, who disappeared from public view for several months in 20 and was yet to hold a press event, spent about 30 minutes answering questions from reporters after the announcement. All of these courts are designed to help the accused solve their cases quickly and with support services available to them. We have proven that, we can do it again, with a snap of our fingers.”Īmong the achievements Zappala has made in office, he noted that police departments are no longer allowed to bring criminal charges without obtaining a prosecutor’s permission, as well as the growth of problem-solving courts such as mental health courts, drug courts, and veterans’ courts. “If the police are properly funded and properly staffed and allowed to do their job, we will have a safer environment. “Please make no mistake, we’ve changed everything about our criminal justice system since I’ve been here,” he said. Zappala addressed what he called a revolving door of people being arrested for violent crimes and then released back into the community to commit more crimes. this is a fight It is beyond question – for what is right and what we believe in,” he said. “It is time for law-abiding people and families to stand up and be counted. Zappala also spoke about protecting victims’ rights, the need for cooperative policing, and community outreach. Zappala updates policy on how prosecutors should handle claims of discrimination. ![]() “This is as close as I’m going to allow this type of agenda and this type of behavior to get out to the people of Allegheny County, because as long as I have the honor of being the district attorney, I will not allow that.” “You can just look to Philadelphia and understand failed criminal justice policies, if they exist,” he said. He said progressive policies in the criminal justice system “have proved disastrous across the country and even in Philadelphia. Zappala faced a progressive candidate in the independent Lisa Middleman in the 2019 general election, beating her by about 14 percentage points. “We face a political agenda that fuels racial and class divisions that empower criminals.” “In this time, in this place, our home is being threatened by a culture of chaos, crime and division, and perverted political agendas that would destroy what we worked so hard to build,” Zappala said. ![]()
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