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Magisterial District Judge 05-02-19

Magisterial district judges (MDJs) do not have to be lawyers but are required to pass a qualifying exam. Handle civil cases up to $12,000; responsible whether serious criminal cases go the Court of Common Pleas; handle preliminary arraignments and hearings; minor criminal offenses, traffic citations and non-traffic ordinance violations. Responsible for setting and accepting bail, except in murder or voluntary manslaughter cases.Term of office: 6 yearsSalary: 93,338

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  • Candidate picture

    Duane Fisher
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Hilary Wheatley Taylor
    (Dem)

Información Biográfica

The Criminal Justice Task Force (11/16) recommended that Magistrates use the Allegheny County Risk Assessment tool for pretrial release determinations when setting bail. Are you familiar with this tool? Would you use it to determine the need for bail and the value of bail required?

How will you handle the imbalance of power you will commonly see in your court between vulnerable populations, who can not afford an attorney and will represent themselves the majority of the time, and opposing parties that tend to be more powerful, as the Police, or have the resources to hire an attorney, as a landlord against a tenant.

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Last Name Fisher
First Name Duane
Campaign Web Site http://www.fisherformdj.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FisherforMDJ/
District Magisterial District Judge 05-2-19
Education Master’s Certificate Program – Criminal Justice Education, University of Virginia (2019) Master of Science Degree – Strategic Leadership, Mountain State University (2008) Bachelor of Science Degree – Biological Sciences / Liberal Arts, York College of PA (1992)
Qualifications for office I worked as a police officer for Mt. Lebanon for over two decades. Since 2018 I have serve as the Chief of Police for Allegheny Township Police Department in Westmoreland County.
There are many factors that would determine the conditions of bail. I would consider all of the merits of the case and the defendant. I would weigh the risk to society and the rights of the accused. I would also take into account the county risk assessment tool.
I believe there is a disparity that exists and that there are many contributing factors, but I do believe it is an issue that needs to be addressed. I know that there are 6 times as many African American males in Allegheny County Jail (according to a report from 2016 from the Criminal Justice Task Force). I believe that one such solution is ensuring adequate legal representation at critical milestones in our criminal justice system, such as preliminary hearings where conditions of bail are set for defendants, would help reduce this discrepancy.
Last Name Taylor
First Name Hilary
Middle Name Wheatley
Campaign Web Site http://electhilary.com
Facebook @hilaryformagistrate
District 05-2-19 (Dormont and Mt. Lebanon)
Education B.A., Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1999 J.D., Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, 2002
Qualifications for office I have 18 years experience as a trial attorney at all levels of our state and federal courts. I volunteer as an arbitrator, mediator and pro bono Housing Court attorney. My work experience has prepared me to step into this position to create a fair, transparent and equitable court for all litigants.
I am familiar with the tool and the recommendation for its use by Magistrates. I believe that any algorithm is only as good and fair as the data used to create it. If the data is generated from institutions that are inherently biased, the algorithm’s recommendation should be evaluated accordingly to ensure that the recommendations do not result in racial disparities in the setting of bail. While I would refer to the Risk Assessment tool when making a bail determination, tying one’s freedom to one’s ability to pay a cash bail amount is offensive on its face.
Access to justice should not depend on one's available resources, education or primary language. I would offset imbalances of power by making certain that ALL participants understand the proceedings, their rights and the implications of any decision they make. This includes making translation services available to litigants, providing access to legal aid services where eligible, or connecting litigants to pro bono representation when legal representation is not guaranteed. I commit to ensuring that each participant leaves court feeling heard, understands their rights and comprehends the next steps in the process, even if that means "routine" cases take more time than experienced participants might be accustomed to.
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