Meet District Judge Candidate: Andrew Shaw

District Judge Race, Upper Saucon Township 

Candidate: Andrew Shaw

Age: 39

Family: I reside in Upper Saucon Township with my wife, Vanessa, a realtor with Weichert, Realtors, our 3 children, Jonah, a second grader at Liberty Bell Elementary School, and preschoolers, Gianna and Luca, and our dog, Violet. 

Political party affiliation: Democrat (cross-filed for the primary, so he will appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballot). 

Tell us about your educational background:

I graduated with distinction with a bachelor's degree (B.A.) in mathematics and political science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1994.  Thereafter, I graduated with a law degree (J.D.) from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1998 where I served as an Associate Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.

Tell us about your professional/business background: 

I have been a practicing attorney for nearly 15 years where I have represented clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individuals in a wide variety of matters, including criminal, civil, bankruptcy and real estate.  I am admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.  I have been the managing attorney of the Bethlehem law firm of Goodman & Shaw, P.C. for nearly 10 years where I have been representing our neighbors and their small businesses.

Why are you running for District Judge? I am running because:

1) serving the needs of the public in a judicial capacity has always been an aspiration of mine,

2) I firmly believe that a District Judge should be a practicing attorney, not a lay person who lacks the understanding of the legal principals and rules truly necessary to properly render decisions in civil, criminal and landlord/tenant matters which come before a District Judge and that can only be learned after years of study and experience, and

3) I want to ensure that all parties will receive fair and impartial hearings where the decisions of the District Judge will be predicated upon the evidence presented in court and not swayed by the identity of the parties. 

What qualifies you to serve as District Judge? (Did you take the required training course? Did you pass the examination?)

As a practicing attorney for nearly 15 years, I have represented clients in a wide variety of matters including criminal, civil, bankruptcy and real matters.  I have served in a judicial capacity on arbitration panels deciding civil matters where the amount in controversy is up to $50,000.00.  As an attorney, I am eligible to serve on day one and am not required to take the exam, which is only required for non-attorneys.

What sets you apart from the other candidates for the job? 

I have experience handling not only criminal matters but also civil and landlord-tenant matters and have served in a judicial capacity.  Also, I have the temperament, integrity, fairness, energy, commitment, common sense and community mindedness to perform the duties of a District Judge.

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

My campaign is being funded by my own funds together with donations from supporters to my campaign committee, Andrew Shaw for MDJ Committee.  In an attempt to reduce the influence of money on campaigns, I have been running a grass roots campaign where I have been going door to door personally speaking with as many voters as possible.

What, if any, endorsements have you received? 

As a judicial candidate, I have not sought out any endorsements and neither has my campaign committee.  Rather, I have taken my candidacy directly to the voters.

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter. 

No.  Call me old fashioned, but I have sought support for my candidacy by engaging voters face to face.