Prepared By: Greg Yorgey-Girdy

Phone/Email:

Campaign Manager: Ted Bordelon Phone/Email:

Candidate Name: Greg Yorgey-Girdy

Campaign Address:

Campaign Email: Campaign Website: gregforphilly.com

I, , certify that the information

(Signature)
provided on this questionnaire is accurate and the opinions stated here accurately reflect my own
positions.
______________________________________________________________________________

Please complete, sign and return this via email in Word Doc format on or before February 13,
2021.

The Judicial Accountability Table (JAT) is a coalition comprised of Philadelphia community

organizations working to bring more fairness to our courts. The JAT’s platform is available at
https://judgeaccountabilitytable.org/platform/. We’ve written this questionnaire to be
values-driven and focused on the issues most relevant to the people of Philadelphia, and we’ve
made our questions compliant with the Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.1 We ask

1
Specifically the following section of 207 Pa. Code § 4.1, Political and Campaign Activities of Magisterial District Judges and
Judicial Candidates in General:
The making of a pledge, promise, or commitment is not dependent upon, or limited to, the use of any specific words or phrases;
instead, the totality of the statement must be examined to determine whether the candidate for judicial office has specifically
undertaken to reach a particular result. Pledges, promises, or commitments must be contrasted with statements or
announcements of personal views on legal, political, or other issues, which are not prohibited. When making such statements, a
magisterial district judge should acknowledge the overarching judicial obligation to apply and uphold the law, without regard to
his or her personal views.

As well as the following section of 207 Pa. Code § 4.2, Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public
Elections:
that you use no more than 250 words to respond to each question.
Thank you for taking the time to complete our questionnaire, and we look forward to your
response. The members and supporters of the JAT include:

A judge who is a candidate for elective judicial office shall not make any statement that would reasonably be expected to affect
the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending or impending in any court.
Reclaim Philadelphia ICE out of Courts
LILAC DecarceratePA
215 People's Alliance Free the Ballot
Philadelphia Bail Fund One PA
Philadelphia Community Bail Fund Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks
Youth Art and Self-Empowerment Project Abolitionist Law Center
Amistad Law Project Democratic First Ward
Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration #No215Jail Coalition
(CADBI)

QUESTIONS

1. What are your top three priorities if you are elected judge?

My top three priorities if elected are:

a. Restoring trust: Our justice system is broken, and one of the only ways to fix the system is

from within. In January, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an op-ed I wrote about how

crucial PA’s court elections are for racial justice this year. The documented culture of

systemic racism and nepotism within the courts is alarming and must be changed from

within -- and I am deeply concerned this culture could trickle down to how defendants

are treated.

b. Ensuring fairness: As a judge, I will work hard to ensure that every person gets their

right to a fair hearing. Every person who passes through the court system deserves a fair

and just experience — regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, religion, sex,

national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, disability or

socioeconomic status. As a Black, gay man, I have experienced first-hand how our

society can treat less privileged people, and that has influenced how I have lived my

personal and professional life.

c. Increasing accessibility: I will also work to expand the accessibility of our courts for all,
 particularly marginalized and compromised communities. This will include working with

court leadership when possible to find potential ways to expand access to the courts for

seniors and also to ensure continued legal education programs and training programs

related to language barriers for judges, attorneys, court personnel and administrative

agency personnel.

2. Do you feel that implicit bias plays a role in our courts? If so, how do you think it

should be addressed?

Yes. The CURE report documented a culture of systemic racism within the First Judicial Court

itself, and I believe this is a pertinent example of how bias has manifested itself within the court

system and could trickle down to defendants. It must be addressed at least in part from the

inside.

3. What if anything would you do as a judge to assure that neither your courtroom

staff nor litigants are faced with racist or sexist behavior?

I will do everything in my power as a judge to change the culture of our court system from

within. That includes taking an active role in internally advocating for the reforms to the First

Judicial District suggested in the CURE report. And, while it should go without saying, I will not

tolerate any behavior or practices that subjects courtroom staff and litigants to this kind of

behavior.

4. Do you believe police misconduct is a problem in our criminal justice system? How

so? What role, if any, do the courts have in addressing this issue?

Yes. Police misconduct remains a constant reality that disproportionately affects poor and

working class communities and especially Black and brown people. Courts are often the last stop

before incarceration for people moving through the criminal justice system, and judges have a
degree of discretion to ensure justice and fairness are served, and that police are held

accountable for their actions.

5. In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other unarmed

Black people by police, Philadelphia protesters have criticized the outsized PPD

budget while communities face massive divestment of resources. A 2019 study from

PICA suggested that the city could save over $7 million by making changes to

reduce police court overtime. What role, if any, do the courts have in addressing this

issue?

The courts would not have a direct role in this process. Courts do not legislate. The courts may

offer its assistance in limiting the time officers may be held in court, but that is at the court’s

administrative officer's discretion.

6. Do you think our criminal justice system works? Why, or why not? If you think

there is something wrong with how it operates, name three ways you would work to

change it as a judge.

Our criminal justice system functions, however, it is in need of an overhaul. Too often, people

from communities of color and people from working class backgrounds are disproportionately

targeted by police and ultimately sentenced and incarcerated for crimes. Further, in part due to

the pandemic, our court system is currently facing a massive backlog. And finally, the culture of

the First Judicial District is currently rife with systemic racism and nepotism, as has been

documented in the CURE report. As a judge, three ways I would work to fix the criminal justice

within my power would be 1. Ensuring my decisions follow the law but are unbiased on a

defendant’s racial or socioeconomic background 2. Using my discretion as a judge to push for a

court system that is as accessible as possible to all during and after the pandemic and 3.

Working within the court system to address the aforementioned culture of systemic racism and

nepotism.

7. One in three Philadelphians has a criminal record. In your opinion, how can judges

support successful community re-entry?

An effective community reentry transition includes; 1) an individualized discharge plan; 2)

making community connections while the person is incarcerated, and a continuation of those

services when reentering into the community will ensure that needs are met during a critical time

point; 3) services that address housing needs provide a critical element of post-incarceration

stability; 4) access to education and employment training; 5) tailored mental health and/or

substance abuse services provide support; and 6) having access to resources that assist in

connecting with friends and family, classes such as parenting or life skills, and other community

engagement activities will also improve stability during community reentry.

Have you or anyone close to you ever been incarcerated? If yes, please share how it

impacted that person or you, and how it would affect your work as a judge. If no, how do

you take into consideration the impact of the decision to incarcerate someone without

having personal experience.

The increase in incarceration has harmed the democratic process, exacerbating barriers to

political participation within a marginalized segment of the population. In many instances, it

would be wiser to assign offenders to probation or other supervised release programs, which

would promote cost reductions, address prison overcrowding, and reduce recidivism rates.

8. Individuals held on probation detainers account for over 50% of the city’s jail

population, and individuals are often held without signed judicial warrants. What
 do you think of this?

This is yet another example of how our justice system is broken in its current state. Probation

retainers can unfairly trap individuals and strip them of their rights, achieving effectively the

opposite of what probation was designed to do.

9. Philadelphia is at the center of the opioid crisis. In order to prevent more deaths,

advocates have worked on harm reduction initiatives including needle exchange

programs, Narcan distribution, and overdose prevention sites. What can judges do

to help expand and protect programs to combat the opioid crisis and continue to

reduce harm? How do you feel about the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

overturning the lower court’s decision that made safe injection sites in Philadelphia

legal?

The aforementioned initiatives are backed by data that shows they are effective at curbing deaths

caused by the opioid crisis and they are an important piece of the puzzle to stem the crisis as a

whole.

10. According to a 2019 report from the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

(NCCPR), Philadelphia now leads the country in removing children and placing

them in foster care. What do you see as the long term effects of this? What can

judges do about this?

My family was formed through the foster care system. There are many children in foster care who

will not be as fortunate as my children, who my husband and I ensure have a safe and loving

home. Judges should always rule in the best interest of the child.

11. How would you factor in a parent's drug history or criminal record in dealing with

a custody matter?
I will not comment on hypothetical situations.

12. Have you experienced or known someone who was subject to domestic violence?

What do you think the court's role should be in intervening in such situations?

I do know someone who was subject to domestic violence, and I prefer not to elaborate on the

details. With that said, the court system must implement extensive reforms to ensure that victims

obtain full relief such as mandatory arrest laws and adopting no-drop prosecution policies.

Additionally, victims of intimate violence should be given a stronger voice in and control over the

process in the context of stranger assaults.

13. Noncitizens may face mandatory deportation if convicted of certain offenses. Do you

think it is appropriate for prosecutors, judges, and criminal defense attorneys to

work together to resolve cases in ways that avoid disproportionate immigration

consequences? Would you accept immigration-neutral plea agreements and/or

sentence defendants to allow them to avoid deportation?

The criminal justice system has an obligation and an opportunity to consider immigration

consequences of convictions, charges, or even arrests for immigrant defendants. As the Supreme

Court has long recognized, lifelong banishment is among the harshest punishments imaginable.

Recognizing and adopting policies that take into account the immigration consequences that are

triggered by the criminal justice system is integral to promoting public safety and is within the

interests of justice.n

14. Do you personally know anyone who is undocumented? If yes, how would this

experience shape your work as a judge? If no, how can you make decisions affecting

undocumented community members without this personal experience?

First, it is extremely important to create a more efficient and fair judicial process. Judges must

ensure that all noncitizens have a meaningful and timely day in court to maintain the integrity of

the system.

15. 86% of women who enter the Philadelphia courts have experienced some form of

trauma, and this is especially true for Black women. How would such trauma

inform your decision-making as a judge? Would you consider alternatives to

incarceration for people who have experienced trauma, and if so, what types of

alternatives? What practices have you seen used that you appreciate?

Incarceration may not always be the most effective response because each offender and crime is

unique. Courts can better tailor a cost-effective sentence that fits the offender and the crime,

protects the public, and provides rehabilitation.

16. Current PA state law allows children under 18 to be prosecuted as adults in some

cases, despite growing efforts locally and nationally to remove children from the

adult system. Do you believe that children should ever be treated legally as adults?

Please explain. What, in your view, are the long-term impacts of incarcerating

children in adult jails and prisons?

Broader reforms can either provide juvenile offenders sentenced as adults with the opportunity to

introduce mitigating evidence or that categorically impose less severe sanctions on juveniles

than on their adult counterparts.

17. According to EvictionLab.org, in 2016 Philadelphia led the country in eviction rates

at 3.84%, 1.14% higher than the national average. Today, as a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment is at a record high and an even greater

 eviction and foreclosure avalanche is looming. Adding to the problem, there is a

sharp disparity in representation between landlords (who are usually represented)

and tenants (who are usually unrepresented) in eviction disputes. What would you

do as a judge to stop the eviction and foreclosure crisis? How can judges support the

implementation of the Right to Counsel legislation to ensure fair representation?

The pandemic is testing the people’s trust in institutions as many governments struggle to

respond effectively to the crisis. Thus, Courts must ensure everyone facing eviction knows about

their right to counsel; slow down eviction cases; hold landlords accountable; and prioritize

health, safety, and accessibility.

18. Have you or someone close to you ever been evicted or foreclosed on? If yes, please

explain and describe how this experience would affect your work as a judge. If no,

how would you make decisions that impact the community without this personal

experience?

When it comes to eviction or foreclosure, it is crucial to determine whether the matter is

appropriate for alternative dispute resolution. Take in consideration COVID-19 possess issues,

concerns, or anticipated delays associated with the management of the matter.

19. Regardless of whether the landlord or tenant ‘wins’ an eviction case or if the case is

ultimately dismissed, an eviction filing by a landlord leads to a permanent public

record that any future landlord can view online. There are close to 24,000 eviction

filings a year and tenants often have issues renting because of the record. What is

the court’s role, if any, in addressing this obstacle for tenants?

Legislation must be passed to seal eviction case records at the point of filing. The records would only

become available to the public after a case resulted in an eviction order or other judicial finding against
the tenant.

20. Are you a landlord? If yes, how many rental properties do you own?

No

21. The majority of consumer debt collection cases are filed by corporate debt buyers

against unrepresented defendants and result in default judgments. What is the role

of the judiciary in ensuring due process for unrepresented defendants in these civil

matters?

To ensure fundamental fairness, additional resources need to be provided to the courts so that

judges can review default judgment applications and settlement agreements.

In a 2015 analysis, ProPublica found that the rate of judgments stemming from consumer

debt cases was twice as high in mostly Black neighborhoods as it was in mostly white ones.

What role should the judiciary play in addressing these racial disparities?

The judiciary can create programs to ensure access to justice for communities of all

incomes and backgrounds and for those with special needs, by providing multiple

resources, including self-help services, pro bono programs, and technological tools, and

by securing nonprofit and government funding.

22. What role should judges play in making courts more transparent and accessible to

members of the community? What will you commit to do if elected judge?

Please see my answer to question 1.

23. What avenues will the Philadelphia community have to hold you accountable to the

values that you express during your campaign, if you are elected?

I have always made myself accessible as a Democratic Committee member, and as a

member of any organization in which I had a leadership role. As such, I intend to make

myself accessible for dialogue around questions or concerns from anyone who contacts

me with an issue relevant to my position.