EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County judicial candidate Nancy Aaroe held a figurative drum that represented her courtroom trial experience during a news conference Thursday in the courthouse rotunda.
Aaroe vowed afterward to beat it repeatedly from now until the primary election in May to underscore the difference in experience between her and her opponent, attorney Brian Panella.
- Nancy Aaroe, a long-time Lehigh Valley attorney, held a news conference Thursday, extolling her level of trial experience over her opponent, Brian Panella
- Aaroe said Panella's decision to run for judge in Northampton County after only six years as a lawyer causes her to question his self-awareness in judgment
- Aaroe and Panella both hope to fill the seat vacated by Judge Stephen G. Baratta in December
“I've had a successful law career of over 32 years, and I've had the privilege of assisting innumerable clients with their legal issues,” Aaroe told a gathering of family and supporters.
“I’m very, very proud of that. For the first 12 years of my practice, I was an assistant district attorney, assistant public defender and an accomplished counsel attorney. I cut my teeth in the courtroom learning the trial skills that have served me throughout my career.
"I established a law firm with my husband. My focus continues to keep me in the courtroom litigating cases and honing my trial skills.”
Without mentioning Panella by name, Aaroe continually pointed out his lack of any trial experience and that he has only been in law practice for six years.
“Simply, this candidate has not put in the time yet to amass the courtroom experience, acquire the wisdom or develop the temperament to be a good judge," Aaroe said.
"In fact, his desire to be a judge right now, at this early stage of his career, causes me to question his self-awareness in judgment.”
During her 10-minute speech, Aaroe referenced an article by veteran attorney Samuel C. Stretton of Chester County that appeared in The Legal Intelligencer in October. It is Stretton’s opinion that it is totally unacceptable for a person to become a judge who has never tried a jury trial.
“The only way you can be prepared to make decisions and work is by making arguments time and time again in front of juries and judges yourself,” Aaroe said.
"Stretton also said the same thing and issued a warning about a recent and concerning trend he has seen where underqualified early career attorneys run for judge positions because oftentimes it results in the diminished quality of match.”
“Our county needs a qualified and experienced judge. I am that person.”Attorney Nancy Aaroe
Aaroe, 58, a Bethlehem Township native, and Panella, a Lehigh Valley native, are running in the primary for the seat left vacant when Judge Stephen G. Baratta retired at the end of 2022.
Baratta announced in January he will run for county district attorney, challenging incumbent Terry Houck in the Democratic primary election on May 16.
Currently in private practice with her husband, Paul, at Aaroe Law Offices, P.C., in Palmer Township, Aaroe has experience working for the county public defender's office, where she said she gained “indispensable criminal trial experience,” including jury and non-jury trials, and arguments before the state Superior Court.
While serving as court-appointed conflicts counsel, Aaroe said, she represented the interests of senior citizens and those with disabilities, as well as indigent criminal defendants, and parents suffering the potential loss of children.
At Aaroe’s news conference, a representative for Panella, Sid Hawach, distributed a single-page letter of support for Panella that outlined his qualifications.
It included his being an attorney with Goudsouzian and Associates of Easton, serving as Bethlehem City Council solicitor, deputy solicitor to the Lehigh County Agency of Children, and service as custody master for six years to Northampton and Lehigh counties.
Panella is a son of State Superior Court President Judge Jack Panella.
Aaroe repeated her position that criminal trial experience makes her the more qualified candidate.
“Our county needs a qualified and experienced judge,” Aaroe said. “I am that person.”
