First Assistant County Solicitor Cody Kauffman wrote in the motion that the generic pleading and recitation of the statutory language is insufficient to open ballot boxes under the provision cited in the petitions. We are glad to see that the honorable court upheld the rule of law and did not abide by conspiracy theories, he said. During an hour-long hearing in front of Berks County Judge James Lillis, attorneys representing the county and Berks County Republican Committee laid out their reasons for why petitions for election recounts could or shouldnt be granted. County election officials fought the petitions, saying they were unfounded and should be dismissed. J. Benjamin Nevius is a judge for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. background-color: grey; An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. James M. Lillis. In the past he has won the National Collegiate Championship. }, Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser is a judge for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. Judge Stacy Wallace, in a decision issued Tuesday, said the rules to allege election fraud were not followed by the committee. The filing deadline for candidates was March 11, 2015.Dimitriou Geishauser, Lillis and Barrett were unopposed in the general election. font-size: .9em; Additionally, the county asserts that the most accurate way to conduct a recount is by using machines designed to accurately count votes. } border:1px solid #FFB81F; However, he said, he does not know if his client has an interest in appealing. { Scott E. Lash. An order from Judge James Lillis was handed down Tuesday, Dec. 6, to the parties involved. } .widget-row.Green { } background-color: grey; Success! The Berks County Board of Elections submitted a response to petitions that were filed last Monday in county court. The committee wants the county to give its attorney the names of voters who cast their ballots on the machines on Election Day, through the mail and by provisional ballot. Before issuing their decision, the commissioners conducted a public hearing during the elections board meeting. She is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in journalism. 0000000584 00000 n Scott D. Keller. background-color: white; text-align: center; The following documents can be found on this site: a. Waivers (with waiver of in-person appearance) b. } A Berks County judge has dismissed petitions filed by the Berks County Republican Committee seeking a recount of ballots cast during the general election at 30 precincts across the county. |al @9# X ( H%D =5"|2+" HI "@&@jBbzVe$ )S }@OJ u Please, 100 largest cities in America by population, Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013 - Courts of Common Pleas, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Eleni_Dimitriou_Geishauser&oldid=7288560, Pages using DynamicPageList parser function, Pennsylvania common pleas court judges, Berks County, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. His practice includes representing clients about Right to Know Law matters before the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, Common Pleas Courts and Commonwealth Court. To examine the outer envelopes of all mail ballots cast by Berks voters to compare the signatures with the voter signatures on record in the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors System. OOR: Records Relating To The Investigation And Tracking Of Personal Protective Equipment Not Confidential Under The DPCL. background-color: grey; .infobox { .widget-row.Democratic { This Judge has no current records to disclose. The committee wants the county to make all voting equipment, including the voting machines, available for inspection and testing. He said that since these machines have been in use for several years they would have expected to hear about this issue before this election. Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved | A Berks County judge has dismissed petitions filed by the Berks County Republican Committee seeking a recount of ballots cast during the general election at 30 precincts across the county. Franklin County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides advancement opportunities to everyone. Talarico shot his. The courts do have general supervisory powers over the polls to ensure compliance and to carry out the intent of the election code regarding the polls being open.. In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Civil Division at No(s): 192-2015-MH BEFORE: BOWES, J., KING, J., and STEVENS, P.J . The committee did not send a representative to this testing or otherwise attempt to participate in the testing, the results of which confirmed the machines were functioning correctly. 100% remote. An effort to force recounts in 30 Berks County precincts had its day in court Thursday. #9 ` )$'R%]O#[iqIW_x @T[RJRN[ $/InEx L6a:HPP? The names of voters who cast their ballots on the machines on Election Day, through the mail and by provisional ballot. background-color: #f9d334; startxref They said Talarico was driving Moyers car. Bodor, a Democrat from Oley Township, will cross-file to appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in the May primary election. display: inline-block; A0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S r @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @=&bqI*wxwd(]>S? :A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?bs He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @$\a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ K ]9 YE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J ( *a &1H :E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p 3 Y -@0 ) n @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @<7 r @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @L4[_" He said that if a specific accusation is not levied, petitions have to be filed in all 202 precincts for a recount to be granted. He represents Pennsylvania municipalities, municipal authorities and schools in responding to Right to Know Law requests and. ALERT! Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. width: 150px; Ms. Smith attended Berks County Election Update: My Dad and I and 92 other voters filed petitions for a manual recount in 30 precincts in Berks County. in English from Immaculata College and her J.D. As he was taken into custody the next morning he made spontaneous statements regarding Moyer being killed. 0000000016 00000 n The petitions were tabled by the committee last month on behalf of 94 individual voters. Pat Barrett. Dui Lawyer Berks County - If you are looking for experienced, award winning dui lawyers then try our trusted service first. And both filed briefs with Commonwealth Court opposing the appeal. font-weight: bold; Winter said election law allows for recounts at individual precincts. background-color: #f9f9f9; Judge Lillis's Court Currently selected. The Oz and McCormick campaigns have been fighting over a number of issues, including the provisional ballots. The Judge asked for both parties to submit additional documentation by 4 PM on Dec 2. Jeremy Mercer, an attorney representing the McCormick campaign, argued that the order from Lillis lacked both a factual and a legal basis. That may have prevented some Berks . /Img1 Do Judge Lillis's Court; ARD DUI Rules; CRN Information; Court Documents; Probation Contact Information; Internships; DUS - DUI Related; 2. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF BERKS COUNTY DOCKET Docket Number: CP-06-CR-0002005-2021 Court Case CRIMINAL DOCKET Page 1 of 7 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. James C. Dixon CASE INFORMATION Judge Assigned: Lillis, James M. Date Filed: 06/16/2021 Initiation Date: 12/22/2020 OTN: U 943950-0 LOTN: Originating Docket No: MJ-23301-CR-0000187-2020 . background-color: green; color: white; Pennsylvania Superior Court Feb. 14With a two-decade law career in both private and public practice, Berks County Assistant District Attorney Justin Bodor is now seeking election as a county judge. Winter said the committee believes an inspection of the voting machines is the only way to get to the bottom of what happened on Election Day. In a similar case in Forest County, Kauffman said, a judge threw out petitions for that exact reason. width: 100%; He had been in Berks County Prison awaiting trial. Apply today! Francis Pileggi is a partner in the firm of Lewis Brisbois, and practices primarily in the areas of corporate and commercial litigation. Before arriving at the Reading Eagle, Karen covered policy issues in Harrisburg and Washington for LNP. It says the petitioners failed to "plead and verify . Judge James M. Bucci retired last December, and Judge Mary Ann Ullman has announced that she will . The committee did not send a representative or otherwise attempt to participate in the testing, the results of which confirmed the machines were functioning correctly. .widget-img { Mike Urban joined the Reading Eagle as a metro reporter in 2002, and since then has covered a wide range of beats and topics across Berks County, including working as an investigative reporter. margin-bottom: 1px; Karen Shuey joined the Reading Eagle staff in 2015. Madelyn S. Fudeman and Theresa Johnson were also on the ballot, competing for two open seats. There was an error processing your request. [1] She also ran for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in 2013. The county to make all voting equipment, including the voting machines, available for inspection and testing by a duly authorized representative. BERKS COUNTY, PA 2850 WINDMILL RD. James M. Lillis Berks County Court of Common Pleas. <]/Prev 491381>> Before arriving at the Reading Eagle, Karen covered policy issues in Harrisburg and Washington for LNP. hb```a``t,A lWPXA wgg`k@ ` ` $ } Primary: She received 19.8 percent of the vote in the Democraticprimary on May 21, 2013. The Berks County Board of Elections submitted a response to petitions that were filed last Monday in county court. background-color: white; The live site is https://www.co.berks.pa.us . It said the petitioners failed to plead and verify specific acts of fraud or error without requesting a recount of all the county-wide votes cast for the office in question. More and more of what is ultimately deciding elections is not the vote or necessarily the law, but rather the results of litigation. James M. Lillis is a judge for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. We are pleased that the opinion affirms Judge Lillis initial ruling and believe the courts continue to follow the law as outlined in the Election Code and interpreting caselaw.. .widget-row.value-only { The petitions were filed last month by the committee on behalf of 94 individual voters. R?;2V # ( m A nN A`@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R ?%.@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S ?Kr His current term expires in 2019. [2], Lillis spent five years in the U.S. Air Force before attending law school. Oz continues to maintain a slight lead, which will require an automatic recount of votes in the state. A court order extended the polls in Berks by one hour on election night in response to an electronic poll book problem at some polling places. When confronted by police, Talarico removed his clothes and fled into the woods. font-size: .9em; Magisterial District Judge 39-3-03: Fannett Township, Hamilton Township, Letterkenny Township, Lurgan Township. You are here: Berks County > County Departments > Court of Common Pleas > Court Administration > Court Directory. University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1982, .infobox { First Assistant County Solicitor Cody Kauffman argued that the petitions should be denied because they do not present evidence of a specific act of fraud or error that occurred. Contact Francis J. Catania or Francis G.X. font-weight: bold; color: white; It said the petitioners failed to "plead and verify" specific acts of . oI n @ @ @ @ @ @ ~a@X>jwT)$)$\n E39-)o2y P8$)7 #~j^\4O@? Judge Lillis denied our petitions December 5. Kauffman said compliance with Act 77 procedures for mail ballots cannot be reviewed under the recount procedure. The county states that this request falls outside the scope of what is permissible under the provision and is an improper attempt to gain access to information without going through the proper requirements and procedures set forth in the election code and Right-to-Know law. 0000000839 00000 n background-color: #f9f9f9; } Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser is a judge for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.She was elected on November 3, 2015. Mercer reminded the board that under state law, the county may not count the provisional ballots for two days after the elections board ruling to give the campaign adequate time to file an appeal, should it wish to do so. margin-bottom: 0; .widget-row { "Judge Lillis' order lacked both a factual basis. Kauffman argued that the inspection of voting machines is not supported under the provision. } !'#))'#&%,1?5,. (610) 678-4571 Website: springtwpberks.org RE-ORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES . There is not a requirement of evidentiary background.. 0 Over the last number of years, we find ourselves in a very difficult place in elections. Geishauser ran for election to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. We are glad to see that the honorable court upheld the rule of law and did not abide by conspiracy theories, he said. The voters relied on the announcement that the polls would be open for an extra hour, Bukowski said. color: white; clear: both; Talarico had a previous burglary conviction that made him ineligible to possess a firearm. Karen Shuey joined the Reading Eagle staff in 2015. The live site is https://www.co.berks.pa.us vertical-align: top; The following candidates ran in the Republican primary. I dont think an undated envelope is a fatal flaw, Barnhardt said. .top_disclaimer { text-align: center; color: black; It says the petitioners failed to plead and verify specific acts of fraud or error, while not asking for a recount of all votes cast for the office in question across the county. The. Berks County 23: President Judge Honorable M. Theresa Johnson Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Berks County Courthouse 633 Court Street . This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. } The following candidates ran in the Republican primary. The McCormick campaigns actions are clearly being made based on political expediency versus a real concern for the law, Leinbach said. margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom:0px; Winter said that allowing the verification of signatures on mail ballots would ensure there were no forged ballots cast. background-color: #003388; .widget-row.value-only.black { padding-left: 10px; Pennsylvania Superior Court 0000000644 00000 n The response from the county also states that many of the other requests in the petitions should be denied because they are contrary to the purpose and scope of a recount under the provision they cite. She is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in journalism. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt cast a dissenting vote saying he believes the intent of a voter not dating the ballot is simply an error in judgement. An order from Judge James Lillis was handed down Tuesday to the parties involved. In a civil case, the jury determines whether a plaintiff has proven the case and what, if any, damages to award. } .infobox p {
} They were voting provisionally because thats what was required under a federal statute that says if voting is extended, the votes shall be segregated and be done provisionally.. background-color: #f9f9f9; ALERT! She covers county government as well as policy issues at the state and federal level with a local focus. Leinbach noted that the reason the commissioners did not object to the petition to Lillis was because they wanted to be fair to any affected voters who were unable to cast ballots in the morning of May 17. As Petitioners did not satisfy either requirement, the Court affirms Common Pleas order, Wallace wrote in her 26-page ruling. %PDF-1.4 % McCormick is specifically challenging the 215 provisional ballots cast during the extended hour. Please contact Lisa A. Siciliano, . Jill Gehman Koestel. } display: inline-block; He was elected to the bench on November 7, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. color: black; .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { 13 min read. She covers county government as well as policy issues at the state and federal level with a local focus. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. This would be a very different conversation if these voters requested a recount based on actual evidence, he said. On February 5, 2020, Appellant filed the Petition [at . .top_disclaimer { padding-left: 10px; [2], Lillis has been an attorney in private practice for over three decades.[2]. The petitions do not do that. OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NO. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the recount effort in Berks is part of a statewide attempt by supporters of failed gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano to flood Pennsylvania courts with petitions seeking to force hand recounts. I just think that is a miscarriage of voter intent.. font-size: 1.2em; Judge Lillis's Court In an effort to streamline upcoming Hearings; all required documents and forms, as well as instructions in their use, are provided in this section of the website. And, in a county that uses an electronic voting system, the recount can be done using electronic devices of a different type than used for the specific election.
