Back
Avatar

Gregory Yorgey-Girdy

Member since: Thursday, 11 February 2021
Last Visit: Never
Details
First Name
Gregory
Last Name
Yorgey-Girdy
Status
Winner
Campaign Cycle
2021
Office
Municipal Court
Sitting Judge
No
Party
Democrat
Phone
267-259-9386
Email Address
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website
---
Ballot Position
6
Button #
28
Votes
95468
Endorsements
Bar Association Rating
Recommended
Party/Wards
Democratic City Committee, 1st Ward, 2nd Ward, 5th Ward, 8th Ward, 9th Ward, 27th Ward
Unions
Philadelphia Metal Trades Council
Progressive Groups
Victory Fund, Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, Reclaim Philadelphia
Clergy
---
Public Officials
Senator Sharif Street, Rep. Brian Sims, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta
News Papers
---
Questionnaire
What has been the general nature of your practice?
I began practicing law with a focus on litigation and have expanded my focus to include conflicts of interest and compliance. As a litigator, I realized the advantages of using eDiscovery and made its use a key part of my practice. At the same time as I honed my prowess using eDiscovery, I was also looking to create a family with my husband and get more involved in social causes in the Philadelphia area, particularly in the LGBTQ+ community, while also focusing my personal time on creating our family through adoption and engaging in advocacy initiatives related to social justice.

As a former litigator, I facilitate the resolution process for conflicts of interest related to firm business. One of my responsibilities is to ensure the firm's obligation to avoid any conflict between our duty to our client and our own interests. Working in conjunction with firm partners and counsel, I conduct legal research, provide comprehensive analyses and recommendations for resolution of potential conflicts of interest and ensure potential conflicts are addressed and resolved. I also develop and maintain compliance policies, procedures, and controls, while also contributing to the management and mitigation of risks to the firm.
Why do you consider yourself qualified to be judge?
I consider myself qualified to be judge because of my professional experience as an attorney but also because of my commitment to fairness and equality which has been demonstrated both through my practice and also through my community organizing and advocacy efforts to make my community and Philadelphia as a whole a more equitable place. Just last summer, I was proud to be one of the lead organizers of the Philadelphia Queer March for Black Lives which drew thousands to the Parkway. This experience is part of what drove me to step up and run for judge, because I believe we are at an inflection point as a country which was in part catalyzed by the murder of George Floyd and our criminal justice system is beginning to experience a long-overdue overhaul. As a judge, I intend to uphold the law and also work when possible to bring positive change to the culture of the First Judicial District.

I'm running for Municipal Court because every person that passes through our court system—regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, language or disability—deserves fairness. The Philadelphia Municipal Court is often the first instance a person comes into contact with our court system, and I vow as judge to do everything possible to make this experience as positive as possible for those entering it.
What is it about our criminal justice system that inspires you?
Criminal justice offers you the ability to use your skills and strength for good, whether through aiding victims of crime, counseling and rehabilitating criminals, or overseeing the progress of a parolee.
What about our current criminal justice system do you believe needs to be reformed?
Generally speaking, our criminal justice system sometimes has uneven outcomes for people of color and working class people vs. other privileged groups. Further, independent reports have shown that the culture of the Philadelphia court system is in need of an overhaul, which I understand is currently taking place but will take time to accomplish.
As a judge, what would your sentencing philosophy be?
I am a firm believer in the rehabilitative process of changing or reforming criminal behavior through a socialization and medical model: drug treatment, counseling, education, and skills training.
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night thinking about a case and wishing you had handled something differently? If so, please describe one situation.
I have never woken up in the middle of the night thinking about any particular case, but I do have sleepless nights worrying about the kind of world my boys are growing up in. You cannot work in the justice system and not know just from experience that there are racial disparities in the system. This fact is frightening.
Who are your role models and why?
Louis L. Redding is the reason why I and many other African-Americans have had more opportunities to achieve our goals than we could ever have imagined. He was the first African American attorney admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1929. Redding was a distinguished civil rights advocate, and he led the1954 U.S. Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education.
What is your favorite book, movie, or tv show of all time and why did it speak to you so much?
My favorite book is Brene Brown’s Dare To Lead. This book taught me how on certain skill sets such as learning how to rumble with vulnerability, living into your values, braving trust and learning to rise after setbacks, disappointment, failure and even grief.
Name a song that you were obsessed with as a teenager.
Encourage Yourself by Donald Lawrence because there is something so powerful about standing in faith, knowing that God's got a blessing with my name on it. What's even more powerful is knowing that God has been and is preparing me for my blessing.
What is you favorite number?
#1
NewsNo Result