David Zellis is running for Bucks County Judge…
Jul 16th, 2009 | By Michael L. Saile, Jr., Esq. | Category: BlogsYesterday, I had the opportunity to sit down and have lunch with David Zellis, Esq. Mr. Zellis is currently the First Assistant District Attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
A First Assistant D.A. is the second in charge law enforcement officer in the county. As a First Assistant, Mr. Zellis handles his own cases, manages the staff, and runs many day-to-day operations of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
In addition to his vast responsibilities at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Zellis is running for one of the three judge seats for that are now available in the Bucks County Common Pleas Court.
Earlier this year, Mr. Zellis was picked as one of the top three democratic candidates for judge in the primary election. David’s campaign message is that he will be a fair judge to all people. Mr. Zellis does not believe in political favoritism. To prove this, Mr. Zellis is not accepting any campaign funds from lawyers.
We all know that any successful campaign requires funding. So how does a prospective judge get the campaign funds? Who really cares which candidates are appointed as new Bucks County judges? Lawyers and politicians…
Due to his 24-year term as a Bucks County District Attorney, Mr. Zellis was not an active politician. Therefore, he was not endorsed by either of the two major parties. Furthermore, without the campaign funding from local lawyers, he is running on his extensive criminal experience and accomplishments and dedication to public service.
Part of his accomplishments as a District Attorney include the successful prosecution of over 20 homicide cases, heading the county grand jury, and the establishment of the Bucks County Crimes Against Older Adults Task Force.
I found Mr. Zellis an approachable, down to earth, and genuine person who was interested in me and listened to my concerns about the Bucks County justice system.
David currently lives in lower Bucks County where he has raised his four children. If elected judge, Mr. Zellis promises to treat everyone fairly, whether it involves a civil or criminal matter.
can a prosecutor sucessfully and truthfully make the change for being totally biased for 24 years as a prosecutor, to being fair and open-minded as a judge? It is just a question. I do not know the answer. He has been conditioned over 24 years to believe that anyone arrested is guilty. I am sure many prosecutors becvome judges, ….. not sure how fair it is.
Jim,
Good question. First, I never believed that every person arrested was guilty. It has always been my practice to keep an open mind and if the evidence is present to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt then I pursue it. On the other hand when there is insufficient evidence then I have dropped the case. I have not been conditioned to believe that anyone arrested is guilty, instead I have been conditioned to seek justice. There is no question that the best judges in the history of Bucks County were former prosecutors starting with Beckert, Clark, Biehn, Biester, Kane, Rubenstein, Gibbons, Goldberg, and Heckler. These men and woman have impressed everyone with their fairness and toughness. I hope to follow in their path and be fair to everyone.
I appreciate the fact that you took time out of your busy schedule to write. I hope that my response is helpful. Thanks. David
Well, OK. What I do know is that for a local municipal court to order a defendant to appear 27 times over 47 months, for a first offense dui, with no accident, lowest tier level, routine traffic stop, in NJ, without one word of tetimony ever being given, whewre the defendant has beerged for a trial from the beginingh, where discovery is still not completed,WHERE THE nj sUPREME COURT ORDERED THE CASE TO PROCEED TO TRIAL ON JAN 10, 2006 IN A court order, … JUSTICE WOULD DEMAND THE CASE BE DISMISSED by the State. and the court, prosecutor, and town, would keepo their fingers crossed the defendant didnt file a civil case in federal court under us title 28 sections 2201 and 2202.
so i am a little concerned about prosecutors and courts in NJ.
NJ is a very corrupted State, as even evidenced yesterday with the 40 plus arrests made for government corruption!