BOSCOLA CALLS UPON GOVERNOR TO APPOINT FREEDBERG AS APPELLATE JUDGE

    
  BETHLEHEM(JUN 19)- Senator Lisa M. Boscola is again calling upon Governor Ed Rendell to nominate Robert A. Freedberg, President Judge of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, to one of the state’s four vacant appellate court seats.  The Senate voted down the Governor’s first slate of nominee’s in mid-May.  At that time, Freedberg was not one of the four. 
     “For the past 28 years, President Judge Freedberg has served the Court of Common Pleas in Northampton County with great dignity and respect for the position,” Boscola said.  “His 28 years of experience at the trial level and the respect President Judge Freedberg has received from the legal community from across the Commonwealth would surely enable him to be a tremendous asset to the appellate court.”

     If appointed, President Judge Freedberg will not seek to be elected to a subsequent term, he will only serve out the term of the seat he would be appointed, which, in this case, would expire at the end of 2009.

      “It is my belief that there is no jurist in the Commonwealth more qualified than President Judge Freedberg to serve on the Supreme Court,” Boscola added.  “However, President Judge Freedberg would be an asset as a member of either the Commonwealth Court or the Superior Court.  His qualifications and judicial temperament are beyond reproach.” 

     President Judge Freedberg has served on the Northampton County bench since 1980, having served as President Judge since 1991.  His expertise has been demonstrated as a member of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, where he was elected Zone Representative to the Executive Committee 1994-96, served as Chairman of the Intermediate/Small Counties Subcommittee, and as a member of the Education Committee. He was Chairman of the President Judges Committee.

     President Judge Freedberg was further recognized by his peers when The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania appointed him a member of the Judicial Council of Pennsylvania, a committee of appellate judges, trial judges, lawyers, and citizens which advises the Supreme Court on administrative matters.

     Senator Boscola is hopeful the Senate will have the opportunity to vote on a new slate of nominees prior to the adjournment of the Senate following the passage of the budget.

     “It is imperative to the performance of the judiciary that these vacancies are filled,” Boscola stated.

     There is currently one vacancy on the State Supreme Court, two vacancies on the Superior Court, and one vacancy on the Commonwealth Court. 

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