Primary election 2023: Berks County judge

May 2—Three candidates are in a race to be Berks County's next judge.

The candidates have each cross-filed, meaning they will appear on both Democratic and Republican ballots in the May 16 primary election as they are vying for the open seat on the bench.

Judges serve for 10 years, then must run for retention to remain on the bench. The position pays $212,495 annually.

The candidates were each asked to respond to the following four questions:

Question 1: Why are you the best candidate for judge?

Question 2: What is the most pressing issue facing the Berks County Court System and how would you address it?

Question 3: What would your guiding philosophy be on the bench?

Question 4: What in your legal career has best prepared you to be a judge?

Here are their responses:

Kurt Geishauser

Age: 53

Occupation: Attorney

Website: geishauserforjudge.com

Response 1: Over my 28-year career, I have had practical experience in every division of the court in which I might be assigned as a judge. In law school, I interned at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare in Harrisburg. Upon graduation, I clerked for the honorable Thomas Twardowski in bankruptcy court and the honorable Stephen B. Lieberman in Berks County Common Pleas Court. I then joined the firm Mogel, Speidel, Bobb, & Kershner primarily working in civil litigation. Finally, I went to practice with Dimitriou & Geishauser, P.C., where I handled family, some civil matters in eminent domain, adverse possession and related topics, and criminal matters. In the latter part of my career, I have primarily concentrated in criminal defense work. If elected, my professional experience would allow me to immediately and effectively get to work on the bench, regardless of what area I'm assigned to.

Response 2: Currently, the most pressing issue is not having a full complement of judges. The honorable Timothy Rowley retired, leaving a vacancy, temporarily being filled by the honorable Jill Koestal. Sadly, the honorable Paul Yatron passed at the end of last year. Finally, it is anticipated that the honorable Jeffrey Sprecher will be retiring in June of this year. Our bench is not at a full complement and won't be even after this election. Therefore, the same amount of cases need to be handled by fewer judges. My diverse experience would allow the president judge to assign me to any division of the court and I would be ready, willing and able to do so.

Response 3: My guiding principle on the bench would be, "Do unto others as you would like done to you." In raising my six children, exemplifying and teaching this principle was a priority for me as a father. In fact, my wife and I had it written in bold letters at the very top of our list of house rules. As a judge, I believe this means that I must fundamentally have a respect for the law of the land, while also having an equal, if not greater, reverence for the inherent dignity and worth of every human person. I believe that as a judge, I would have the duty to apply the law fairly, to consider each case carefully and with extreme attention to detail, to listen to all parties appearing in court, and at all times to treat others with the respect with which I hope they would treat me.

Response 4: I was fortunate in my career to be mentored by some distinguished attorneys and judges. That, combined with the types of experiences their mentorship afforded me, best prepared me to be a judge. Disciplined legal research, commitment to the law and the legal process, grace under pressure, advocating strongly, the virtue of service, a sense of humor and compassion are just a few lessons learned along the way. Involvement in such a variety of litigation types solidified how important the process is to the litigants themselves. For lawyers, staff and even judges it is another day in court, but litigants must live with what happens next and that cannot never be forgotten.

Jill Scheidt

Age: 55

Occupation: Attorney, partner at Masano Bradley, LLP

Website: electjillscheidt.com

Response 1: I have been a lawyer for over 30 years, both inside and outside of the courtroom. I am the only candidate with extensive civil, family and criminal practice experience, which means I can start in any courtroom on Day One to meet the needs of Berks County. I have a proven track record of protecting families and the rights of all. I will follow the constitutions of the U.S. and PA. I maintain the highest ethical standards and will always apply the law fairly. I am a wife, mother and longtime resident of Berks and have been a community leader. I will bring those same leadership skills to the bench.

Response 2: I believe the issue can be generally labeled as an access issue and more specifically labeled as a problem-solving issue. Litigants often end up in court due to underlying issues involving mental health and addiction, social, behavioral and "human" challenges. They look to the courts to solve the issues. But the complexities aren't simply resolved with a judicial decision. So many litigants return or the behaviors persist. I have seen the advent of problem-solving courts in criminal cases over the last 30 years which are grounded in tested, research-based practices. I would like to see the court work with other stakeholders to develop similar programs in custody court to stop the revolving door of litigation. This requires that litigants have greater access to mental health treatment and other programs. It is a complex issue, for sure, and I am willing to tackle it to the extent a judge is permitted.

Response 3: My guiding philosophy on the bench, should I be elected, is to follow the PA and U.S. constitutions as well as the statutes enacted by the legislature. The role of a judge is to interpret the law, not legislate new policies from the bench. I will ensure that everyone who comes into my courtroom will be heard and be treated fairly, with due process and dignity.

Response 4: I have developed the right mixture of knowledge of the laws and procedures as a lawyer and the humanity necessary to recognize the problem that brings litigants into the courtroom and how to solve it. I am very hard-working and will continue to be once elected. I love to learn. I love to work. I regularly teach continuing legal education to lawyers and am active in the Berks County and state bar associations. I will continue to invest considerable effort in honing my skills as a judge.

Justin Bodor

Age: 42

Occupation: Berks County assistant district attorney

Website: bodorforberks.com

Response 1: I have spent the bulk of my career in public service, including the last 12 1/2 years as an assistant district attorney. I am in court regularly, making the tough decisions to make Berks County a better, safer place. I work with police, probation officers and other court professionals on a daily basis, so I am fully aware of the issues that judges need to address. My experience as a trial attorney makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a trial court judge on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. I have no agenda other than serving justice one case at a time for the people of Berks County and beyond.

Response 2: The biggest issue facing courts all over the United States is the trend of the public losing confidence in the court system. According to a recent Gallop Poll, only 40% of the public approves of the job of the Supreme Court of the United States. We are very blessed to have wonderful judges here in Berks County who make the right decisions for the right reasons, but I do believe that we need to be mindful that there are many people out there who have distrust in the legal system. We need to continue to elect judges who will continue to uphold these high ethical and intellectual standards so that the public trusts that decisions from the bench are made fairly and impartially.

Response 3: My guiding philosophy is simply to be prepared and to consistently treat everyone who comes into my courtroom with dignity and respect. Being an Eagle Scout, I have always lived my life by the motto that "character counts," including the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. I believe that combining these six pillars with a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence makes for a judge that our community deserves. I promise to strive everyday to live these ideals. I understand the great importance of this position, as the decisions judges make have a lasting impact on the lives of the residents of Berks County.

Response 4: When I graduated from law school, my first job was as an assistant public defender here in Berks County. After some time in private practice, I moved to the Berks County district attorney's office, where I still serve to this day. I have experience on both sides of the aisle, and this is important because one of the main duties of a trial court judge is to recognize the difference between someone who is dangerous and needs to be kept away from society versus someone who simply made a mistake or is in the criminal justice system because of substance abuse or mental health issues. For the people in the latter group, a judge needs to impose sentences that address these issues and help people break the cycle of coming in and out of the system. I've spent my career making these judgment calls, and it has prepared me for the role of judge of the court of common pleas.