A Saucon Valley district judge who resigned earlier this summer was charged with misconduct by judicial regulators who claim he cursed at his staff, used his reception area to make fast judgments that acquired the court the reputation of being a “fast food court,” and allowed his private bankruptcy practice to bleed into his dealings as a district judge and vice versa, the Morning Call reported Friday.
Former Northampton County District Judge David Tidd (FILE PHOTO)
After defeating two primary opponents, David W. Tidd, 47, of Hellertown, was elected to a second six-year term as district judge for Hellertown broough and Lower Saucon Township in November, but resigned twice in the months that followed.
He first resigned in February, but rescinded that resignation days later after he said he received encouragement to remain on the bench.
According to the Morning Call story, which cites a 96-page complaint from the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board, Tidd allegedly frequently used the “f-word” and demeaning terms to describe litigants, and even plea bargained traffic cases without the knowledge of the police officers who wrote the tickets that led to them.
In its article about the misconduct charges filed against Tidd, Lehigh Valley Live called the Judicial Review Board’s complaint “scathing,” and said it includes–among other things–allegations that he:
- Chastised staff for scheduling court cases on Election Day, because he wanted to campaign
- Threw pens and screamed expletives when they didn’t work
- Slept on the floor of his office in his judicial robes in 2012, and used robes as a pillow in 2015
- Called his Lower Saucon courtroom “nothing but a traffic court” and used that as reasoning not to hold hearings, but instead to conduct business from the reception area counter
- Angrily confronted staff about the ongoing misconduct investigation and demanded to know whether they had cooperated with it or not
- Acquired a reputation as a ‘drive-thru judge’ for the brevity and informality of his hearings
If he is found guilty of misconduct, Tidd could be fined and/or barred from ever serving as a judge again, Lehigh Valley Live reported.
Their article indicated he didn’t return a message seeking comment left at his Hellertown office.
The Morning Call reported that Tidd’s lawyer, Samuel Stretton of West Chester, said his client intends to fight the complaint on the basis that his staff allegedly spied on Tidd and were encouraged to report on him.
The full 96-page complaint against Tidd from the Judicial Conduct Board can be read online on the Judicial Conduct Board’s website.
The formal complaint–dated Aug. 26, 2016–is prefaced by the following news release from Chief Counsel Robert A. Graci:
Harrisburg. The Judicial Conduct Board today filed formal charges by Board Complaint in the Court of Judicial Discipline against former Northampton County Magisterial District Judge David W. Tidd. The Board Complaint alleges violations of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges and the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, former Judge Tidd, as the subject of the charges, is presumed innocent in all proceedings before the Court of Judicial Discipline. The Board has the burden of proving the charges filed in the Court of Judicial Discipline by clear and convincing evidence.
In accordance with the rules which govern proceedings before the Court of Judicial Discipline, former Judge Tidd has the right to respond to the charges, to obtain and inspect evidence which forms the basis of the allegations, and to a public trial before the Court of Judicial Discipline.
Upon completion of the trial, if the Court determines that any of the charges have been proven by clear and convincing evidence, it will schedule a Sanctions Hearing to determine what sanction should be imposed. Possible sanctions include censure, suspension, or removal from office.
The case is being prosecuted for the Commonwealth by Deputy Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board Elizabeth A. Flaherty.
