Bryan Altieri / Candidate for District Judge
Important Note: A Valley and Beyond maintains a neutral standpoint in all politics. It is the media's job to only present the facts. It is your job to learn about the candidates and vote for who you think will do the best job.
Interview
"This is an election year in the Lehigh Valley and in a lot of the country. The Lehigh Valley is primarily Democrat (party). I have the pleasure of interviewing a District Judge candidate today. (Part 1 covered we found out about Bryan's background and some of his qualifications. Part 2 starts with Bryan's answer to the cliffhanger.)
Bryan: What has happened in Baltimore and other cities have been tragedies. 99% of law enforcement are good, loyal public servants. They try to do the right thing. Police, firefighters and others put their lives on the line everyday. Incidents like this (the riots), shed light on that fact there is still a long way to go. If an incident like this would appear before me, I am not affiliate with any District Attorney's office, law enforcement or anyone. I would hear the facts and listen to them. I would, obviously, look at the statutes and penal code. What latitude and discretion do I have? Most importantly, what does the law say? Not what do I think or is my personal preference. I let the law be my guide and compass. What has happened recently has made me step back and think: Maybe we have not come as far as I thought. All lives matter. A judges job, especially at the district level, is often a person's introduction to the criminal justice system.
Even if it is not, district judges pretty much hear everything. If something is bound over for trial, that is the job of the district judge. To hear the evidence, probable cause, was it a good search and seizure, etc. I do not have any agendas or anything. That is why all 5 (candidates) cross filed (Democrat and Republican). The idea is that a judge is supposed to be independent. Their political views should not matter.
What's been happening around the country has re-invigorated a dialogue. Judges really need to leave their own biases at the door. "You walk into a courtroom, check everything at the door." Bryan: Exactly.
"I apologize, I am new to covering politics. Since this country was founded, there have been 2 parts to the law: letter and spirit. At least, that has been the theory. The letter and spirit of the law do not always agree. Most judges have the ability to combine the 2, am I correct?"
Bryan: You are right. What you are talking about is judicial velocity. What role should the judiciary be? There are various schools of judicial thought. One is a literalist, basically, judges should only go by what is written, and not interpret the law. Other schools of thought believe a judge can and should interpret the law in addition to what is written.
What I said, at this level, I will not legislate from the bench. What I mean by that is an excellent judge should interpret the law, enforce the law and not make the law. A good judge should be able to read and interpret the statute of a law. Discern what was the intent of the legislature.
That has been the age old debate: what the role of a judge should be. Often what is written in the law is antiquated. The judge is often left in a lurch. There is a fine line. District judges run the gambit from civil to criminal cases (traffic, search and seizure, etc.).
"You are pretty much on the front lines, as far as a judge goes?"
Bryan: Yes. I believe a good judge can do both. Interpret the law and know what latitude or discretion do I or don't I have. There may be times where a judge may want to engage in judicial activism. They have to restrain themselves because their opinion does not agree with what the law says.
I promise to do the best job I can at interpreting and enforcing the law. I am not looking to re-invent the wheel.
"Judges actually have to do research in a lot of instances. This is something a lot of people may not realize." Bryan: Yes. Are you asking me how I would do that? "Yes".
Bryan: Depending on the nature of the case and issue at hand, I would meet with my staff. Figure out what is the issue at hand. Go to the appropriate area of the law. I would use my staff and speech adaptive technology on my computer to type out my decision. I know the penal code in Pennsylvania is so vast, it would take up a long time to look something up. The reason I would hire the best qualified staff possible. Between myself / staff / technology come back with the best decision according to law.
Many people have asked how I would do visual evidence (referring to his blindness). I would have staff describe it to me. What is the exact nature of the evidence? I have spoken to a lot of other district judges. Their response has been "A lot of their cases involve eyewitness testimony."
"Working on a lot campaigns in the past 15 years shows you have a lot of experience with the political and judicial."
Bryan: I have always tried to surround myself with good people. If I have the honor and privilege of being elected, I certainly want to hire the best qualified staff. We would make sure all the citizens of Bethlehem Township are served well. We certainly want to keep this area safe. Make sure this is an area people want to come to and live, work, raise a family. The key is to make sure anyone I would hire is well qualified, intelligent with excellent interpersonal and psychological skills. The staff can assist me in doing the best job I can.
I have always said, everything I have accomplished has been a result of the utilization of the skills I have. It is really the combination of that and the countless self sacrifice of a lot of people who have helped me along the way. I just want to serve, say thank you, pay it back and pay it forward. I think the best way is to serve the community in the best way I can, from a pragmatic and practical standpoint. I have always wanted to be a judge. There are not a lot of blind judges out there.
I know given my listening and people skills and what this job demands, I have no doubt I can do it. I just want a fair shot and prove I can do it. I would eat, sleep and breathe this job. I would not use it as a stepping stone until something better comes along. "I can easily see that."
I want to encourage everyone to get out there and vote. In order for us to have a robust democracy, everyone has to vote and be involved. People often do not vote for judges. Judges have such a huge effect on people's lives. This is an off year election, every vote does count. I really enjoyed meeting the people,
I want to thank Bryan Altieri for taking time for the interview. I not only enjoyed it, but learned a lot about the judges and how important it is to vote for them.
Bryan: What has happened in Baltimore and other cities have been tragedies. 99% of law enforcement are good, loyal public servants. They try to do the right thing. Police, firefighters and others put their lives on the line everyday. Incidents like this (the riots), shed light on that fact there is still a long way to go. If an incident like this would appear before me, I am not affiliate with any District Attorney's office, law enforcement or anyone. I would hear the facts and listen to them. I would, obviously, look at the statutes and penal code. What latitude and discretion do I have? Most importantly, what does the law say? Not what do I think or is my personal preference. I let the law be my guide and compass. What has happened recently has made me step back and think: Maybe we have not come as far as I thought. All lives matter. A judges job, especially at the district level, is often a person's introduction to the criminal justice system.
Even if it is not, district judges pretty much hear everything. If something is bound over for trial, that is the job of the district judge. To hear the evidence, probable cause, was it a good search and seizure, etc. I do not have any agendas or anything. That is why all 5 (candidates) cross filed (Democrat and Republican). The idea is that a judge is supposed to be independent. Their political views should not matter.
What's been happening around the country has re-invigorated a dialogue. Judges really need to leave their own biases at the door. "You walk into a courtroom, check everything at the door." Bryan: Exactly.
"I apologize, I am new to covering politics. Since this country was founded, there have been 2 parts to the law: letter and spirit. At least, that has been the theory. The letter and spirit of the law do not always agree. Most judges have the ability to combine the 2, am I correct?"
Bryan: You are right. What you are talking about is judicial velocity. What role should the judiciary be? There are various schools of judicial thought. One is a literalist, basically, judges should only go by what is written, and not interpret the law. Other schools of thought believe a judge can and should interpret the law in addition to what is written.
What I said, at this level, I will not legislate from the bench. What I mean by that is an excellent judge should interpret the law, enforce the law and not make the law. A good judge should be able to read and interpret the statute of a law. Discern what was the intent of the legislature.
That has been the age old debate: what the role of a judge should be. Often what is written in the law is antiquated. The judge is often left in a lurch. There is a fine line. District judges run the gambit from civil to criminal cases (traffic, search and seizure, etc.).
"You are pretty much on the front lines, as far as a judge goes?"
Bryan: Yes. I believe a good judge can do both. Interpret the law and know what latitude or discretion do I or don't I have. There may be times where a judge may want to engage in judicial activism. They have to restrain themselves because their opinion does not agree with what the law says.
I promise to do the best job I can at interpreting and enforcing the law. I am not looking to re-invent the wheel.
"Judges actually have to do research in a lot of instances. This is something a lot of people may not realize." Bryan: Yes. Are you asking me how I would do that? "Yes".
Bryan: Depending on the nature of the case and issue at hand, I would meet with my staff. Figure out what is the issue at hand. Go to the appropriate area of the law. I would use my staff and speech adaptive technology on my computer to type out my decision. I know the penal code in Pennsylvania is so vast, it would take up a long time to look something up. The reason I would hire the best qualified staff possible. Between myself / staff / technology come back with the best decision according to law.
Many people have asked how I would do visual evidence (referring to his blindness). I would have staff describe it to me. What is the exact nature of the evidence? I have spoken to a lot of other district judges. Their response has been "A lot of their cases involve eyewitness testimony."
"Working on a lot campaigns in the past 15 years shows you have a lot of experience with the political and judicial."
Bryan: I have always tried to surround myself with good people. If I have the honor and privilege of being elected, I certainly want to hire the best qualified staff. We would make sure all the citizens of Bethlehem Township are served well. We certainly want to keep this area safe. Make sure this is an area people want to come to and live, work, raise a family. The key is to make sure anyone I would hire is well qualified, intelligent with excellent interpersonal and psychological skills. The staff can assist me in doing the best job I can.
I have always said, everything I have accomplished has been a result of the utilization of the skills I have. It is really the combination of that and the countless self sacrifice of a lot of people who have helped me along the way. I just want to serve, say thank you, pay it back and pay it forward. I think the best way is to serve the community in the best way I can, from a pragmatic and practical standpoint. I have always wanted to be a judge. There are not a lot of blind judges out there.
I know given my listening and people skills and what this job demands, I have no doubt I can do it. I just want a fair shot and prove I can do it. I would eat, sleep and breathe this job. I would not use it as a stepping stone until something better comes along. "I can easily see that."
I want to encourage everyone to get out there and vote. In order for us to have a robust democracy, everyone has to vote and be involved. People often do not vote for judges. Judges have such a huge effect on people's lives. This is an off year election, every vote does count. I really enjoyed meeting the people,
I want to thank Bryan Altieri for taking time for the interview. I not only enjoyed it, but learned a lot about the judges and how important it is to vote for them.
