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The high cost of not having a lawyer

After 43 years as a trial lawyer, I became a judge in August of 2022. Because I was a practicing attorney for so long, little about this job was really new to me. One matter which was a complete surprise is the high number of litigants who choose to attend court proceedings without a lawyer. Many of them complain that “I can’t afford a lawyer,” even though they never even tried to retain an attorney, at reasonable cost. Although I must accept their decision to proceed without counsel, I am often disappointed about their complete lack of preparation, and very poor presentation of ...

Family learning can help break cycle of generational poverty

As a former educator at both the high school and college level, I have seen the stark difference in success rates between students who have the support of their families as they learn and those who unfortunately do not. By support, I don’t just mean regular reminders to study or encouragement for achieving good grades, although that undoubtedly helps. I also mean support at the life lesson level, in which students get to see how the adults in their lives engage with the same subjects they are studying in school. For example, students may be taught financial literacy in the classroom, ...

Reflections on Jesus, ‘vermin, animals and poisoning our blood’

Alright, which word above should not be associated with the others in the title? Don’t fight it. Your answer says it all. Most Christians believe that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead to bring God’s grace and mercy to ALL people. Catholics rejoice in the universality of Christ’s redemptive reach annually during Eastertide and daily by their participation in the Eucharist, as they celebrate the memorial of, the participation in and the sacramental reenactment of Christ’s victory over sin and death through his passion, death and resurrection for all peoples ...

With COVID-19, 3rd time not the charm

I just recovered from COVID-19 for the third time. My journey with COVID began in March of 2020. My father developed respiratory symptoms after an extended stay in the hospital for rehab. He was 65 and he had never had respiratory issues a day in his life. Doctors worked to come up with an answer as to what was happening, but they could only say they had no answers other than Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). According to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is “a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting ...

Postcards from the edge of cannibalism

SCRANTON — Several years ago the Smithsonian magazine ran an elegant story about the use of postcards in American culture as a way both to communicate to loved ones far away and to illustrate what the traveler wants you to see about where they have been. The key phrase is “wants you to see.” Smithsonian used as an example the work of Curt Teich, a German immigrant who in 1931 used his small printing company to introduce idyllic, brightly colored postcards that always included the familiar “Greetings from,” then inserted the name of a town or state the family member or ...

Lift the LNG permit ban

Pennsylvania holds the answer to domestic and global energy and environmental challenges. We can slash emissions impacting our air quality, sustain job growth, and strengthen our nation’s energy and national security. Natural gas is the solution, as it’s ready to be deployed at greater scale here and abroad. But, President Biden’s LNG permit freeze and the inability to build critical energy infrastructure in this country – because of environmental extremism – stands in the way. Bipartisan leaders, including U.S. Senators Casey and Fetterman, and Governor Shapiro, agree: ...