Farrell running for county judge
A longtime Scranton magisterial district judge formally announced her candidacy Thursday for Lackawanna County judge, saying the length and depth of her service make her the best qualified candidate in the race.
"I think I'm ready to jump in and hit the ground running, and I could fill any niche that needs to be filled at the court of common pleas," said Magisterial District Judge Alyce Hailstone Farrell, 45, of Scranton.
Judge Farrell announced her candidacy before hundreds of supporters at St. Mary's Center.
She is the fourth candidate to make a formal announcement. The others are attorney Patricia Grande Rieder, attorney P. Timothy Kelly and Magisterial District Judge Jim Gibbons. All four are registered Democrats, although judge candidates may file nominating petitions for the Republican and Democratic nominations.
Judge Farrell, a graduate of Dickinson School of Law, served two years while still in law school as an assistant to attorney James Haggerty when he was general counsel for Gov. Robert P. Casey. She joined her father's law firm, now Kreder, Brooks, Hailstone, where she was an associate from 1992 to 1997. In 1997, she was elected magisterial district judge in a territory made up mostly of downtown Scranton and the Hill Section.
Judge Farrell said she has handled more than 100,000 cases, ranging from parking ticket appeals to murders while also serving as the pilot magisterial office for a couple of pilot programs for the county court.
"Right now, I like to say, I'm on the front lines of the judicial system," she said. "You can look it up. I have the busiest office."
At the county court's request, she ran a pilot truancy court and a pilot first-time offender court for underage drinkers. She also started a retail theft court that allows young, first-time offenders to clear their records if they complete a counseling program.
Judge Farrell said she started the program because she remembered Mr. Casey used to get many appeals for pardons from people convicted of retail theft, a conviction that can prevent someone from gaining a state license for various professions.
"My philosophy has always been to try to help people and give people a second chance," she said, but added that she will not hesitate to jail someone who deserves it.
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@ timesshamrock.com