EASTON, Pa. — Easton attorney Jeremy Clark announced his candidacy for Northampton County judge on Friday.
Appearing in front of the Northampton County Liberty Bell inside the courthouse rotunda, Clark, surrounded by family and friends, confirmed he will be running for the judge position, cross-filing on both the Democrat and Republican tickets.
Clark grew up in rural central Pennsylvania before enlisting in the Army in 1997, completing boot camp and Army engineer training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After securing a ROTC scholarship, Clark attended the University of Delaware.
From 2001 to 2005, Clark served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry officer, with three combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Those years taught me some of life’s most enduring lessons: hard work, discipline, and a commitment to service,” Clark said.
After his service, Clark came to the Lehigh Valley where he met his wife Liz and began commuting to Villanova Law School from Bethlehem.
Clark resides in Easton with his family, including daughters Allison and Vivian, and their dog.
“My law career has given me experience in a lot of different areas, from criminal defense to consumer bankruptcy work to estate planning to zoning and municipal work to family law and civil litigation. I served as a court-appointed counsel for criminal defendants who couldn't afford to hire an attorney,” Clark said.
“I'm currently one of the solicitors for the city of Easton, but probably the most impactful job that I've had in my career was when I served nearly ten years as a court-appointed divorce master for the county. That job not only honed my legal skills, but it helped display my temperament to be able to stay calm, fair and reasonable under even some of the most difficult circumstances.”Jeremy Clark
“I'm currently one of the solicitors for the city of Easton, but probably the most impactful job that I've had in my career was when I served nearly 10 years as a court-appointed divorce master for the county. That job not only honed my legal skills, but it helped display my temperament to be able to stay calm, fair and reasonable under even some of the most difficult circumstances.”
According to Clark, “The citizens of Northampton County deserve judges who are going to be hardworking, open-minded, and committed to applying the law fairly to everyone, regardless of that person’s background or identity.”
Priorities for his campaign and potential election include “help[ing] justice move smoothly through the courts,” he said.
“There’s an old saying: Justice delayed is justice denied, right? And one of the things I think is easiest for people to get stonewalled or to get lost in the mechanisms of the courthouse, because it can be very complicated. And so I would work to try to ensure that justice works smoothly so that it can be affordable, both in time and money for everyone who's involved,” Clark said.
Liz Clark said she was very happy for her husband, adding he has been considering the candidacy for “quite some time,” adding that she believed that this election cycle was precisely the time to jump in.
“We talked about it as a family. We understand that the campaign process can certainly be challenging, but we've got a great, strong unit, and I think that is one of the things that will be great for us, and it'll be great for him. He knows that we support him,” Liz Clark said.
Appearing in support of Clark at the announcement were Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., Councilman Frank Pintabone, and Councilwoman Crystal Rose.
“Jeremy has the temperament, the intelligence and the character to do a really good job for group citizens in Northampton County, and he has always been up-to-date and expedient,”Sal Panto Jr.
Citing Clark’s military experience, Pintabone said “I’m sure he’ll do a great job fighting for us in Northampton County,” while Rose said he has her full support, adding “He would do a great job on the bench.”
Panto said he has worked with Clark for the past two years.
“Jeremy has the temperament, the intelligence and the character to do a really good job for group citizens in Northampton County, and he has always been up-to-date and expedient,” Panto said.
Earlier this week, another candidate announced his bid for judge: Northampton County prosecutor Robert Eyer, who is first assistant district attorney and chief deputy to District Attorney Stephen Baratta.
The judge’s seat is currently held by Judge Anthony S. Beltrami, who is in his second 10-year term but will not seek re-election.
“With your help, we can maintain the standards of the Northampton County Court, and I look forward to working with you all as I take this next step in serving this county where I'm so proud to call my home, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania,” Clark said.
