Sharbel Koorie Running For Elwell Judge Seat

An Easton code inspector wants to be the city's next district judge.

Sharbel Koorie says he is running for the seat left vacant earlier this month by the death of Judge Gay Elwell. He is set to make a formal announcement this morning at his home in the West Ward.

"This job requires a person who is able to understand the issues before them and make judgments based on the facts presented in each case,” Koorie said in a statement.  "I’ve lived it here.  Our neighborhoods have had murders, shootings, accidents involving loss of life, thefts, fires, vandalism, graffiti, domestic violence, carjacking, and the list goes on. Growing up in this type of neighborhood, you really learn to understand how things work and why."

Elwell, who had served as downtown Easton's district judge since 1997, died December 3 at 54 of natural causes. Northampton County's senior district judges have been filling in since then.

In addition to his job with the city, Koorie said he also works as a disc jockey and owns properties around the city. He has also proposed opening a restaurant on the 600 block of Northampton Street.