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Magisterial District Judge 05-02-22

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

    Craig C. Stephens
    (Dem, Rep)

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 Stephens
First Name Craig
Middle Name Cryan
Campaign Web Site http://www.keepjudgecraig.com
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District O5-2-22
Education Chartiers Valley High School. Duquesne University. Duquesne University School of Law.
Qualifications for office Magisterial District Judge since January 2016. Experience running a courtroom and rendering decisions involving a variety of cases, including traffic and non-traffic summary trials, landlord/tenant disputes, civil and criminal matters. Attorney since 1994 with extensive courtroom experience.
As a sitting Magisterial District Judge, I am very familiar with the County Risk Assessment tool when setting bail. I have handled hundreds of arraignments both in my court and at Pittsburgh Municipal Court. The pretrial risk assessment tool can be used by the Magistrate as one of the means of evaluating the factors to be considered in determining bail. However, a risk assessment tool must not be the only means of reaching a bail determination. A Magisterial District Judge is required to apply Rule 523 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure when determining whether to release a defendant on bail. A Magistrate must consider all of the criteria provided in Rile 523.
As a Magisterial District Judge, I am required to apply the law in all cases that come before me. Under the ethical cannons that apply to judicial conduct, I am unable to make pledges or promises that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of my judicial duties. Indigent individuals that qualify can be represented in criminal matters by the public defenders office. Also, Neighborhood Legal Services or the Lawyer Referral Service through the Allegheny County Bar Association could be contacted for representation in civil matters such as landlord tenant disputes.
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