Allegheny County Courthouse With nearly 40 candidates running for nine open seats on the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, this election cycle offers a paramount opportunity to remake the county’s criminal justice system. Common Pleas Judges are responsible for overseeing trials for criminal, civil, and family cases and delivering sentencing. They can also be a part of doling out, or withholding, cash bail. Their discretion can reform the court.
Pittsburgh City Paper has chosen to highlight four different categories of endorsements and/or rankings for this year’s judicial candidates: legal, political, reform, and LGBTQ. The legal rankings come from the Allegheny County Bar Association and have four different results: highly recommended, recommended, not recommended at this time (which means candidates could be recommended later, but aren’t currently), and unqualified.
TribLIVE s Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.
Two insurance salesmen who said an off-duty North Braddock officer tried to falsely arrest them because he suspected a scam have filed a federal lawsuit.
The complaint filed by James Biernesser and Douglas Holcomb, who sold life insurance for American Income Life, names as defendants Officer Sharon Jackson, who is currently on leave, North Braddock borough and police Chief Isaac Daniele.
Daniele said he could not comment on pending litigation. A message left with Jackson’s attorney was not immediately returned.
Paula Reed Ward
Tribune-Review staff
TribLIVE s Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.
Nearly six months after former Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Mark V. Tranquilli resigned his seat and stipulated to a complaint alleging racial bias, a Pittsburgh man convicted by him on marijuana charges is seeking a new trial.
It is believed to be the first hearing on what is likely to be many such requests involving Tranquilli, who joined the court in 2014 and moved to the criminal bench in 2018. The request at hand Wednesday involved allegations against the judge’s impartiality.
PA House of Representatives
State Representative Ed Gainey won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee in his bid for mayor of Pittsburgh Sunday, holding off a spirited challenge from Tony Moreno.
Incumbent Bill Peduto, who both men hope to beat on May 18, did not seek the endorsement. But moments after his 326-224 win, Gainey said the endorsement “speaks volumes. This is the first time I can [remember] them endorsing an African American to be mayor of the city of Pittsburgh. This is just more momentum, he added. We’ve got to unite this city … in the best way possible, and I’ve done that my whole career.”
PA House of Representatives
State Representative Ed Gainey won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee in his bid for mayor of Pittsburgh Sunday, holding off a spirited challenge from Tony Moreno.
Incumbent Bill Peduto, who both men hope to beat on May 18, did not seek the endorsement. But moments after his 326-224 win, Gainey said the endorsement “speaks volumes. This is the first time I can [remember] them endorsing an African American to be mayor of the city of Pittsburgh. This is just more momentum, he added. We’ve got to unite this city … in the best way possible, and I’ve done that my whole career.”