EASTON, Pa. — Former Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta announced Tuesday he is seeking to become the county’s next district attorney.
Baratta will run in the upcoming Democratic primary to unseat incumbent Terrence Houck.
- Former Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta is running for District Attorney
- He's running to unseat fellow Democrat Terrence Houck in May's primary
- Baratta served as a judge on the county's Court of Common Pleas for 25 years, and as first assistant district attorney before that
Baratta served as a judge on the county’s Court of Common Pleas from 1997 until his resignation in December, including a stint as president Judge from 2013-18.
Before his election to the court, Baratta worked as the county’s first assistant district attorney.
“We have a crisis with gangs, gun violence and controlled substances killing our youth; yet the district attorney has no plan other than wait in his office for law enforcement to arrest someone,” Baratta wrote in a statement.
"In today's world, our district attorney needs to be active in the community, bringing education, community programming and creative use of governmental resources to protect and restore our community.”Stephen Baratta, candidate for Northampton County District Attorney
“It's not enough. In today's world, our district attorney needs to be active in the community, bringing education, community programming and creative use of governmental resources to protect and restore our community,” he said.
After graduating from Bangor Area High School in 1974 and Lafayette College four years later, Baratta studied law at Fordham University and joined the Pennsylvania Bar in 1981. Shortly after, he started his own practice.
He was appointed solicitor of the county’s Department of Children and Youth in 1985, and five years later moved to represent its Department of Human Services. Baratta moved to the District Attorney’s office two years later.
During his tenure as first assistant district attorney, he was “dedicated to pursuing equal, fair, and effective justice, with passion, perseverance, and dedication to our community,” he wrote.
Municipal primary elections will be held May 16, with the general election following in November.
