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Vincent Melchiorre

Member since: Saturday, 29 December 2018
Last Visit: Never
Details
First Name
Vincent
Last Name
Melchiorre
Status
Withdrawn
Campaign Cycle
2019
Office
Common Pleas
Sitting Judge
No
Party
Democrat
Phone
267-407-7320
Email Address
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Website
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Ballot Position
1
Button #
0
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Questionnaire
What has been the general nature of your practice?
I have always maintained a general practice representing individuals and companies in the Philadelphia region. In the last twenty years of my thirty-one year practice, I concentrated on major Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate and Estate work. I always had a portion of my practice devoted to free legal work especially for Senior Citizens and as a Volunteer Child Advocate.
Why do you consider yourself qualified to be judge?
In addition to my practice where I had five employees, I was a law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas for eighteen years and an attorney for the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union overseeing compliances and contract issues. I was able to oversee my employees and fulfill all obligations to my clients. I have been on the bench as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas for two years now, I make sure I am always prepared, I read everything and do a lot of my own research. I know how to manage my courtroom with honesty, hard work and humility, while understanding the law and each individual who appears before me.
What is it about our criminal justice system that inspires you?
The ability to really make a difference in the City of Philadelphia by finding the appropriate remedy for the people who appear in front of me. It is a way I can give back to the city I love on a daily basis.
What about our current criminal justice system do you believe needs to be reformed?
The holding of defendants on minor charges with high bail pre-trial. Bail should not be punitive. Pre-trial detention should be reserved for the defendants who have a propensity for violence, have a history of failing to appear for court, and are a threat to our community. Otherwise, bail should be imposed to insure the defendant's appearance.
As a judge, what would your sentencing philosophy be?
Since I have been a judge for two years now, my sentencing philosophy is what sentence can I give a particular defendant so this person becomes a productive member of society while holding he or she accountable for their crime. Defendants with mental health issues and drug addition should receive the help they need so they do not keep coming back to court. I think there is a difference between a bad person and a person having a bad day.
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.
As a trial attorney, sometimes during a trial I would wake up thinking if I had done something differently how could that have affected my clients' case. I took each of these experiences as a learning experience and tried to adapt my thinking moving forward.
Who are your role models and why?
My role models are my Mother and Father. There are a lot of public and private people who I look up to, but my parents made me the person I am today. They taught me there are only two kinds of people in this world, Good and Bad! It doesn't matter what they look like or where they came from, it comes down to are they a good person or not. This lesson has been invaluable to me.
What is your favorite book, movie, or tv show of all time and why did it speak to you so much?
My favorite movie was The Turning Point with Mikhail Baryshnikov. This movie reinforced my belief that as long as you have passion for something and a work ethic with non-stop drive, you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.
Name a song that you were obsessed with as a teenager.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
What is you favorite number?
13 (but for now it would be 1!)
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