Meet District Judge Candidate Antonia Grifo

Editor's note: In the weeks leading up to the May 21 primary, we asked Easton area candidates to fill out questionnaires about themselves. This is how district judge hopeful Antonia Grifo responded.

ANTONIA GRIFO           

Age:    56 DOB 10/9/1956

Family: Married to:    Ronald W. Shipman, Esquire 12/31/1984

Children: Paolo Raines Shipman, Student, NYU, Marco R.G. Shipman, Student, NCC, Ronald W. Shipman, II, Pastor, Christopher M. Shipman, Esquire

Grandchildren: Stella Rose Shipman Abigail Joy Shipman

Political party affiliation: Cross-filed. (Registered Democrat.)

Tell us about your educational background:

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, J.D., 1982

BRYN MAWR COLLEGE, B.A. Cum Laude, 1978

With Departmental Honors.

PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY, H.S. Diploma, with High Honors, 1974

Tell us about your professional/business background:

ANTONIA M. GRIFO, ESQUIRE,     Easton, Pennsylvania        2002-Present

Sole Practitioner  General practice with a focus on

    Estate Planning & Administration, Elder Law

EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY, Adjunct, Part-time  (2005-2010)

SHIPMAN & GRIFO, Easton, Pennsylvania   1986-2002

    Partner/Managing Partner                       

    General law practice with an emphasis on Civil and

Commercial Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate               

OFFICE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY  1983-1985

    Assistant District Attorney (Easton Team)       

THE HONORABLE ISAAC S. GARB, JUDGE

Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania

Law Clerk                                           1982-1983

Why are you running for Magisterial District Judge?  

When this position became available, I was downsizing my legal practice in anticipation of finding a full-time public service position in the law. For me, serving as District Judge is a logical continuation of a long career as an attorney, and a long history of community service in Easton.  I am at a point in my career where I can devote my full time and attention to this position.

What qualifies you to serve as the district judge?  

As an attorney, I am qualified to serve as a Magisterial District Judge without the necessity of taking the month-long course and passing the state certification examination which is required of non-attorneys.  

In my 30 years as an attorney, every day I have been using the very same skills of a good judge – the ability to decide factual issues and apply the applicable law to the facts.  

As a judicial law clerk, an Assistant District Attorney and a general practitioner, I have earned a reputation as a hard-working attorney with unquestioned integrity, legal ability and respect for our legal system. As an attorney, I know what it means to be fair and “impartial” in the “faithful performance of the duties of the office”.

My law practice and my community service have taken me to all corners of the District, giving me an invaluable insight into the people and the situations that will come before me.

My life experience as a wife, mother and grandmother, a teacher and a mentor has taught me to be a good listener and a thoughtful decision maker.

My role as managing partner of a busy law practice, Shipman & Grifo, has given me the managerial skills to manage the busiest Magisterial District Court in the County, a Court which also has significant administrative responsibilities.

What do you see as the job's primary role and responsibilities?

The Magisterial District Courts are the first level of the Pennsylvania Courts. They are responsible for criminal cases, certain summary offenses and misdemeanors of the third degree, including certain DUI offenses and offenses by juveniles, and civil claims up to $12,000.

They handle a wide variety of disputes between citizens and businesses, including traffic cases and landlord tenant disputes. They decide whether serious criminal cases go to the Court of Common Pleas and handle preliminary hearings and preliminary arraignments. They set and accept bail, except in murder or voluntary manslaughter cases.  They have significant administrative responsibilities, including the responsibility of managing a staff.

The Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges state that the adjudicative responsibilities of the office include (but are not limited to) that “magisterial district judges shall be faithful to the law and maintain competence in it”, and state that the administrative duties include (but are not limited to) that “magisterial district judges shall diligently discharge their administrative responsibilities, maintain competence in judicial administration and facilitate the performance of the administrative responsibilities of their staff and of other members of the judiciary and court officials.”

Candidates for magisterial district judge may “not make pledges or promises of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office; make statements that commit the candidate with respect to cases, controversies or issues that are likely to come before the court.”

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

All fundraising and expenditures are being handled by The Committee to Elect Antonia Grifo District Judge, registered on January 22, 2013. The Committee and the candidate filed the required Campaign Finance Reports on May 10, 2013, which reports are available at the Voter Registration Office.  The Committee has chosen not to solicit donations from non-family attorneys.  The campaign will be funded by the candidate, family and friends.

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

No endorsements have been solicited or received.  A judicial candidate is not ethically permitted to directly solicit or accept publicly stated support.

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/CommitteeToElectAntoniaGrifoDistrictJudge