Latest news with #Lightner
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Verdict in Erie judge race to come in fall as Mosco and Lightner score party nominations
The three-way race for Erie County judge is down to two nominees. In a race in which one of the candidates could have won both party nominations and locked up the race, Emily Mosco Merski took the Democratic nomination and Jeremy Lightner took the Republican nomination, according to final unofficial vote totals the Erie County Elections and Voter Registration Office released at 11:28 p.m. on May 20. The total includes all mail-in ballots, the office said. The third candidate in the judge's race, Leigh Ann Orton, lost both nominations. Merski and Lightner will run against each other in the Nov. 4 municipal election for a seat on the nine-member Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Merski and Lightner are both registered Democrats who cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican ballots. Orton is a registered Republican who also cross-filed. With 100% of precincts reporting, Merski, a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County, received 15,100 votes on the Democratic ballot, or 58.2%, according to the unofficial totals. Lightner received 7,859 Democratic votes, or 30.29%, and Orton received 2,936 or 11.32%. On the Republican side, Lightner led with 5,801 votes, or 37.27%. Orton received 4,924 Republican votes, or 31.63%, and Merski received 4,806, or 30.87%. Merski, 42, is a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County who also has a private law practice. Lightner, 39, is one of two chief deputy district attorneys for Erie County. Both live in the city of Erie. More: Review coverage from the Erie County municipal primary Orton, 53, is the first assistant solicitor for Erie County. She lives in North East Township and unsuccessfully ran for judge in 2023. Merski was the only candidate who received a "recommended" rating in the Erie County Bar Association's lawyers' poll. Lightner and Orton both received "no rating." Merski and Lightner's campaigns both relied on personal loans and in-kind contributions for funding. Orton's campaign raised the least of the three, according to pre-primary campaign finance filings. The winner on Nov. 4 will fill the seat on the local bench that has been vacant since Judge Elizabeth K. Kelly retired in April 2024. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mosco, Lightner win nominations in judge's race, will compete in fall
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Comfortable making hard decisions': Q&A with prosecutor Jeremy Lightner in judge's race
As one of two chief deputy district attorneys for Erie County, Jeremy Lightner helps District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz run the office. Lightner has spent much of his career prosecuting cases that involve guns and gangs. He said he wants to use that experience "to help make this county a better place" as a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Lightner is running in the May 20 municipal primary against Emily Mosco Merski, a part-time assistant public defender for Erie County; and Leigh Ann Orton, the first assistant solicitor for Erie County. Party registration: Democrat. Lightner is cross-filed as a Democrat and a Republican. Age: 39 Residence: City of Erie Experience: Prosecutor in the Erie County District Attorney's Office since 2014. Trial chief deputy district attorney since 2023. Started career as law clerk to Erie County Judge Shad Connelly, now retired. Education: Bloomsburg University; law degree from University of Illinois. Admitted to Pennsylvania bar in 2012. Personal: Married to Sarah Lipiec Lightner, an intensive care unit nurse; one child Social media: Erie County Bar Association poll: No rating Question: Why do you want to be a judge on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas? Answer: I'm excited to use my skills to help make this county a better place. A good judge comes down to sound decision-making, and we need to elect people that are comfortable making hard decisions. I've been making hard decisions about whom to prosecute harshly and leniently for years, and I've been getting those decisions right — the drop in gun violence in Erie coincides with my assignment to reduce gun and gang violence in 2021. But the criminal justice system is just a small part of our legal system, and crime is a downstream result of the biggest problem plaguing our county: poverty. I'm excited to work to get decisions right for vulnerable people so that their lives can be bettered, rather than harmed, by the court system. Describe the case that has had the most impact on you as a lawyer. When I was a prosecutor on Veterans Court, one of the veterans struggled with addiction. He had significant issues from his service in the Iraq war, and he had fallen into addiction and crime. In Veterans Court, you have weekly meetings with the veteran to keep on top of him and ensure he's in a good place. This veteran kept relapsing, no matter how hard he tried. The fifth time this happened, the veteran came into court crying and I ended up alone with him and one of the probation officers. He talked about his nightmares and what caused him to relapse with deep insight, and thanked us for all we had done to make his life better, because it was better than it had been before Veterans Court. It was one of the most emotional conversations of my life, and I will never forget it. That veteran eventually lost his battle with addiction. That "case" taught me that we can never stop fighting for those in our community, and even if we don't reach our loftiest goals, putting in the time and energy to improve their lives is worth it. It also reminded me that being a lawyer isn't about rules and statutes. Those may be the tools of the trade, but we joined this profession to help make people's lives better, and fighting the noble fight is the most important thing you can do. Describe any changes or innovations that you would like to bring to Common Pleas Court. Watching youth gun violence in the city, I want to create programming that attacks these problems, rather than manages them. First, I think that court programming can be more aggressive with at-risk kids at an earlier age, and can try to incorporate mentorship, consequences and development into a cohesive program before they have committed crimes of violence, rather than punishing them appropriately after. Second, I believe that a program needs to exist for those charged with crimes. Right now, pretrial bond is the same whether an individual has a DUI, a retail theft or is charged with attempted homicide for shooting someone. That doesn't seem right, and I have noticed that other cities in our state have developed a "gun court" to make sure these cases, which involve significantly more public danger than the average case, are handled in thoughtful ways to make sure the community is safe and those charged are given the best chance to come out of the case as safer, better members of society. Finally, I think that housing issues are a blight upon Erie, and I do think that a housing court would allow the city, landlords and tenants to fully handle issues that seem to fall to the wayside currently in the system. Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County judge race: Jeremy Lightner touts work as prosecutor
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fentanyl dealers would get mandatory prison under bills
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A set of bills advanced this week in the state House would set harsher penalties for drug dealers who peddle fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin and their derivatives. 'These bills impose a mandatory minimum (prison term) for drug traffickers,' explained one of the bills' sponsors, Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, in an interview Friday with Target 8 via Zoom. 'We needed to figure out a way to disrupt the supply chain. They are peddling death in our communities.' Inside The fentanyl crisis Lightner acknowledges she's encountered some pushback. Mandatory minimums have faced criticism historically. 'I get that mandatory minimums are something of the past,' said Lightner. '(But) the pendulum has swung, I think, so far to the other side now. I think it's time for us to say, 'We're not going to take it.' It's not just going to be a slap on the wrist.' 8,500 fentanyl pills in Grand Rapids storage shed brings prison In 2023, the most recent year available, fentanyl overdoses killed 2,168 people in Michigan, according to the state health department. Under House Bills and , the mandatory minimum sentences would range from five to 30 years depending on the amount sold. On the low end, less than 50 grams would carry a minimum five years in prison up to 20 years. More than 1,000 grams would garner at least 30 years in prison up to life without parole, as well as a mandatory $2 million fine. Summary: House Bills 4255 and 4256 At a March 19 hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, two mid-Michigan parents who've lost children to fentanyl testified in support of the bills, as did Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert. 'I used to be not a big fan of mandatory minimums just because we were usually getting the low-hanging fruit,' Gilbert testified. 'But things changed right around 2012 when fentanyl and carfentinil hit … (they) are basically the primary movers and killers today in the drug culture.' But Stephanie Kammeraad of Grand Rapids, whose son, Carlos, in January 2023, told Target 8 she does not support mandatory minimums in every case. 'Too late': Grand Rapids teen died even as fentanyl fatalities dropped 'I do think every situation is unique. I worry about those who don't know that what they're dealing or selling has fentanyl in it,' said Kammeraad. 'Then, my heart breaks for them because I picture our son, Carlos, potentially being one of those people. … I don't know that locking people away is fixing the problem.' Kammeraad said Carlos' struggle with addiction could have prompted him to sell drugs in desperation. 'An addict's brain isn't thinking clearly,' Kammeraad said. 'It's only thinking about, 'How do I get the next hit?' That's all they can think about. Their brain chemistry has changed.' Kammeraad wants to focus resources on treatment, not incarceration. Still, she acknowledges mandatory minimum prison terms could make a positive difference. 'It gets people off the streets, yes, which is good,' Kammeraad said. 'I guess it could save someone's life.' If a dealer knowingly sells fentanyl or sells solely to enrich themselves, Kammeraad agrees that a mandatory prison sentence is appropriate. Lightner noted that the bills passed the House, which has a Republican majority, with bipartisan support. She hopes the Democrat-controlled Senate will consider the bills promptly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters will pick Erie County's newest judge this year. Race starts with three candidates
One seat on the Erie County Court of Common Pleas is up for election this year, and the race so far resembles the race for another open seat two years ago. Three candidates have announced they are running in the May 20 municipal primary, just as three candidates campaigned in the primary in 2023. One of the candidates this year also ran in 2023. She is Leigh Ann Orton, 53, a registered Republican from North East who is now the first assistant solicitor for Erie County. The other candidates who have announced are newcomers to a judicial race. They are Jeremy Lightner, 39, one of two chief deputy district attorneys for Erie County, and Emily Mosco Merski, 42, an Erie lawyer in private practice and a part-time assistant public defender for the county. Lightner and Merski both live in the city of Erie and are registered Democrats. They and Orton are cross-filing on the Democratic and Republican ballots. Mayor's race: 'The city of Erie can't wait': Democrat Daria Devlin kicks off mayoral campaign The three announced their candidacies in late January. Other candidates can still enter the race. Mayor's race: Erie Mayor Joe Schember, facing primary challenge, kicks off reelection campaign Campaigns can start circulating nomination petitions on Feb. 18, and the petitions must be filed by March 12, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Lightner, Merski and Orton are running for the seat on the nine-member local bench left vacant with the retirement of Judge Elizabeth K. Kelly in April 2024. Retired judges have been handling cases until Kelly's seat is filled. Another Erie County judge, Daniel Brabender, is retiring in January 2026. His seat will be up for election in 2027. County executive's race: Davis launches reelection bid, vows to keep fighting 'status quo' after heated first term The winner of this year's race will serve a 10-year term and then be up for a retention vote for another 10-year term. Judges in Pennsylvania must retire at age 75. The annual pay for a Common Pleas Court judge as of Jan. 1 is $227,411, as set by state law. County executive's race: ECGRA head Perry Wood enters county executive race, pledges 'collaborative' leadership Here is an introductory look at the current candidates, in the order in which they announced their candidacies. Look for more coverage in the Erie Times-News through the May 20 primary and the municipal election on Nov. 4. Education: Bloomsburg University, law degree from the University of Illinois. Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 2012. Experience: Prosecutor in the Erie County District Attorney's Office since 2014. Trial chief deputy district attorney since 2023, working as top aide to District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz. Started career as law clerk to Erie County Judge Shad Connelly, now retired. Statement: "I've been a public servant my whole career and I have a huge passion for serving the community. As I've prosecuted violent crimes and helped rein in gun and gang violence in the city, I've realized that an experienced, skilled judge who understands the needs of the community is more important for the safety and well-being of Erie County than even a very experienced prosecutor." Social media: Education: Mercyhurst College, law degree from Penn State Dickinson Law. Admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 2011. Experience: Solo practice at Vendetti & Vendetti law firm in Erie for past 13 years. Part-time assistant public defender for Erie County, specializing in appeals, since 2012. Started career as an associate at Knox Law Firm in Erie. Statement: "I am running because the people of Erie deserve a judge who is battle-tested and courtroom tough — someone who has fought for justice at every level and understands what it means to face challenges head-on. As a public defender, I've stood up for the most vulnerable and ensured their voices are heard. It's this passion for justice and fairness that drives me to serve on the bench." Social media: Education: Union University, Jackson, Tennessee, law degree from University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Admitted to Pennsylvania bar in 1999. Experience: First assistant solicitor for Erie County since 2024. Private practice with husband, Chris, in Orton & Orton firm, North East, since 2018. Knox Law Firm in Erie, 2009-17. Associate real estate broker in Erie, 2007-09. Private practice in own firm in Erie, 1999-2002. Law office in Memphis, Tennessee, 1995-98. Campaign experience: Orton lost the Republican nomination in the 2023 municipal primary for judge by 102 votes to Eric Mikovch. Mikovch lost in the municipal election to the Democratic nominee, Peter Sala. Statement: "We have a need for another judge on the bench who has diversified experience in different areas of the law. Judge Kelly stepped down, and so her position is open, and that is the position that I want to fill. She championed the family while she was on the bench and in her private practice before that. And I, too, have championed the family in my practice." Social media: Contact epalattella@ or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County judicial race opens with three vying for one open seat
