Northampton County gets a new court this summer as security wins out over certain conveniences
Updated 12:34 PM;
Today 12:34 PM
Northampton County Judge Michael Koury Jr., here administering the Oath of Allegiance to 22 new citizens during their naturalization ceremony June 6, 2017, has announced a new Central Court, which is expected to debut in July 2021.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com
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Security tipped the scales of justice as Northampton County has decided to add a new court to handle certain preliminary hearings, President Judge Michael Koury said Monday.
In an administrative order issued Friday, Koury said Central Court will debut July 6 in Courtroom 4 in the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton for all such hearings involving incarcerated people or those out on bail.
Safety vs. convenience: Northampton County looks to create Central Court for some district court hearings
Updated Feb 14, 2021;
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Security in Northampton County’s district courts is better than it once was if your biggest worry is keeping the employees from getting COVID-19.
A large glass enclosure now greets visitors to District Judge Robert Weber’s court in Easton, for example.
The county court system plans to open Central Court on June 1, initially for preliminary hearings involving those currently incarcerated in the county prison, which is attached to the courthouse in Easton. After three to six months, the court plans to add preliminary hearings for those who are out on bail, as well, Koury said.
Alleged Easton killer’s life is now in the hands of a jury
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
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Northampton County District Attorney Terence Houck stood in silence for 60 seconds.
After the long pause, he explained to the jurors the silence represented the amount of time Jacob Holmes allegedly stood over the dead body of Miguel Aponte, who he’s accused of shooting six times.
“This was personal,” Houck said. “The way he was killed, the time it took. This was personal.”
Holmes, 39, of Easton, is accused of killing Aponte, 25, at the Easton Café in 2009 in revenge for a killing Aponte allegedly participated in in 2006. Holmes faces the death penalty if he’s convicted of first-degree murder.