The League of Women Voters of Monroe County provide a look at candidates for the 10-year term of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Monroe County. This is a new seat as the state legislature has voted to add a seventh judge. Candidates are cross-filed and appear on both Democratic and Republican ballots.

Gerard J. Geiger

Party: Democrat

Mailing Address: Stroudsburg.

Website: http://geiger4judge.com

Campaign email: geiger4judge@gmail.com

Education: B.A., Lafayette College; University of Regensburg, Germany; J.D., Dickinson School of Law.

Current occupation: Attorney at Newman Williams in Stroudsburg.

Qualifications for Office: I am an accomplished trial attorney with jury trial experience in both the federal and state courts throughout eastern Pennsylvania. I have successfully handled trials involving millions of dollars. I teach constitutional law to lawyers and government officials and have been rated “AV-Preeminent” in an anonymous poll of judges and lawyers for both my legal abilities and ethics.

If elected, what will you do both on and off the bench to ensure that all Monroe County residents have access to justice?

A: I am currently a federal court mediator and, as the Monroe County Bar Association president, I helped create the first mediation program for the Monroe County Courts. I believe that a judge with solid jury trial experience and with a mediation background can effectively manage cases to reduce both the financial and emotional costs of lengthy litigation. I will encourage, both on and off the bench, a robust alternative dispute resolution program so that costly trials are the last resort for resolving disputes.

Dan Higgins

Party: Democrat

Mailing Address: Committee to Elect Dan Higgins Judge 26 N. 6th St. Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Campaign Phone: (570) 534-4284

Website: http://www.ElectJudgeHiggins.com

Campaign email: Info@ElectJudgeHiggins.com

Education: Villanova University — Bachelor of Science 1989; University of District of Columbia Law School — Juris Doctor Degree 1995

Current Occupation: Judge for Magisterial District Court 43-3-02 serving both Stroud Township and Hamilton Township.

Qualifications for Office: For the past seven years, I have served as judge regularly presiding over criminal cases and civil cases in my district court. My criminal case decisions have involved some of the most serious and complex charges, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, drug distribution conspiracy, and statutory rape. My experience includes presiding over hundreds of criminal trials involving various summary level offenses. I further decided hundreds of civil cases involving landlord-tenant law, contract law, property association law, and negligence. Additionally, my judicial duties include presiding over arraignments, preliminary hearings, bail status hearings, emergency Protection From Abuse hearings, and emergency on-call criminal cases arising all over Monroe County. I have completed over 180 hours of judge educational classes since 2012. Before becoming a judge, as an attorney I regularly practiced criminal and civil law for more than 13 years in the state and federal courts of Eastern Pennsylvania.

If elected, what will you do both on and off the bench to ensure that all Monroe County residents have access to justice?

A: As judge I have permitted claimants to file claims without having to pay filing fees upon applying In Forma Pauperis (IFP) verifying they do not have the resources to pay the court costs. Many times the fees in cases can cost hundreds of dollars, which can be a barrier for many. Further, the current IFP application can only be submitted in writing. Upon my election I plan to coordinate with our president judge and prothonotary to develop a more accessible, internet-based system to allow those with limited resources to file an IFP application online that would quickly be reviewed. Additionally, to improve access to justice I will be advocating for a free or reduced fee internet-based system for civil case filing and case docket access for the public to use. The current system, although internet-based, is very costly for the average person to use. Court proceedings are a matter of public record and the public must be able to access them, no matter their financial status.