Apr 30, 2013 3 min read

For 90 minutes Tuesday night, seven men and one woman who hope to be Washington County’s next judges threw themselves on the mercy of the court of public opinion.

With just three weeks before the May 21 municipal primary, the eight judicial hopefuls squared off at the DoubleTree Hotel, Meadow Lands, in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Washington County Bar Association. More than 100 people were in the audience.

The Washington County complement of six judges has been reduced by a third due to the retirements last year of Paul Pozonsky and Janet Moschetta Bell. Pozonsky’s abrupt resignation occurred amid reports of a grand jury investigation and destroyed drug evidence.

In his closing remarks, Charles Kurowski brought up what he called “a crisis in the courthouse. In 33 years, I have never seen such a train wreck.”

A husky-voiced Valarie Costanzo cited her experience as a district judge in Cecil Township and McDonald hearing both civil and criminal cases. She said it’s unfortunate that spring allergy season coincides with the primary.

Peter V. Marcoline III talked of his rigorous schedule that energizes him while also showing his stamina.

Lane Turturice reminded voters that two years ago, he received more than 19,000 votes as the Republican nominee in a contest won by Democratic nominee Gary Gilman. He also mentioned a property reassessment that is looming in Washington County, and said it’s an issue he understands.

Alan Benyak cited his work as a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and talked of the needs of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that the judicial system is now dealing with those who are “the tiny tip of the iceberg that’s coming.”

Tom Fallert said he’s “not a household name in Washington County” but noted he’s practiced law in courts throughout Western Pennsylvania.

First Assistant District Attorney Michael Lucas told of convincing Pennsylvania Superior Court to reverse itself, reinstating a life sentence for a man convicted of a 2005 murder in Washington.

As is permitted for judgeships, the names of all eight candidates will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. The two top vote-getters on each party’s ballot in the primary will appear on the ballot Nov. 5.

One attorney in the audience was surprised to hear his name mentioned in response to a question about promoting civility in the courtroom, not as a pugilist but as a paragon of civility.

Blane Black said Charles C. Keller, one of the founding partners of the Peacock Keller law firm in Washington, where he is now senior counsel, “keeps his cool.”

Keller, who earned his law degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 1949, said after the forum he would have liked to have heard the candidates answer the question, “Under what circumstances would you use contempt of court?”

State Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he is not supporting a particular candidate but rather approached the forum with an open mind.

“It’s kind of nice not being on the hot seat for once,” Neuman said. “Fortunately, we’re not in session, so I was able to attend to the debate.”

Asked what question he would have posed to the candidates, Neuman said, “I would have liked a longer elaboration on what qualifies you and how that makes you a better candidate for judge. Most cases are settled now, and judges a lot of times are like mediators.”