Priorities | Jenna For Judge

JUDICIAL PRIORITIES & PHILOSOPHY

Judicial Priorities

Jenna has three main priorities she will aim to fulfill when serving as judge:

1. Court Efficiency
Justice delayed is justice denied. Currently, too many cases drag on for far too long, leaving defendants, victims, and their families in limbo. Taxpayers are the ones who bear these unnecessary costs of inefficiency. With her extensive courtroom experience, Jenna understands where improvements can be made and processes can be streamlined to ensure cases move through the system more quickly and effectively.

2. Veterans Court
Lehigh County does not currently have a Veterans Treatment Court, despite the unique needs of veterans in our community. These courts provide critical resources, such as regular court appearances, mentorship, and treatment for underlying mental health issues like PTSD. By establishing a Veterans Court, we can honor their service, reduce recidivism, and help them reintegrate as productive members of society. It's one way we can serve those who have so honorably served and sacrificed for our country and freedom.

3. Sending the Right People to Prison

We must focus on incarcerating those who truly pose a threat to public safety—violent offenders, repeat criminals, people who possess guns illegally, particularly those who use those illegal guns to commit their crimes, and those who victimize the most vulnerable among us. At the same time, we must avoid inundating our prisons with individuals who commit minor offenses. Compassion is equally important, especially for children and victims caught in the crossfire of these cases.

Judicial Philosophy

The Constitution makes clear that the judiciary is to be an independent but co-equal branch of government. This means that the role of a judge is to interpret laws, not create them. The integrity of our legal system relies on judges applying the law as it is written, not as they might wish it to be.

Judges must always strive to be fair and unbiased, ensuring that every individual who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect. Each case is unique, just as the people involved are unique, and it’s essential for judges to approach each case with an open mind and a willingness to truly listen.

This philosophy ties closely to every attorney's favorite answer: "It depends." That’s because justice is rarely one-size-fits-all. It depends on the facts, the circumstances, and the law — none of which should ever be ignored or overlooked.