Welcome. John M. Morganelli, District Attorney of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2008. He is recognized as a leading and outspoken voice on behalf of the law enforcement community. His frank talk about the need to Abolish Parole for Violent Criminals and Stop Illegal Immigration has earned him national recognition.

DA Morganelli was elected District Attorney in 1991 at the age of 35. He was re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003 , 2007 and 2011. He served as President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys' Association 1999-2000. He has served as a Special Deputy Attorney General and as an advisor to the Governor on crime issues.

In 1993-94, DA Morganelli successfully prosecuted an unprecedented lawsuit against the governor to enforce Pennsylvania's death penalty for those convicted of first degree murder.

DA Morganelli is also an experienced courtroom prosecutor who has personally tried to verdict numerous first degree murder cases including a conviction in a case in which the body of the victim was never located. He has argued first-degree murder cases in both the state and federal appellate courts.

DA Morganelli is often seen on national television. He has appeared on "60 Minutes" and has been a frequent guest on Fox News Network's "The O'Reilly Factor", "Heartland" hosted by former Congressman John Kasich, CNN's "The Lou Dobbs Show" , "Connie Chung Tonite", MSNBC's "Donahue" and "Internight" with John Gibson. Cases that he prosecuted have been the subject of documentaries aired on A&E Network, "America's Most Wanted," and the Discovery Channel.

Recently, SterlingHouse Publishing of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania released his first book, "The D-day Bank Massacre:The True Story Behind the Martin Appel Case."

Biography

District Attorney John Morganelli

Education

• Juris Doctor: May 1980, Villanova School of Law,
  • Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085;
  • Class Rank: 31/196
  • Moot Court Board Member – selection based on outstanding academic achievement at end of first year
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science: May 1977
  • Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018
  • Class rank: 5/305
  • Summa Cum Laude Graduate
  • Final cumulative quality point average 3.90
  • Perfect 4.00 average in major field of study

Experience

• District Attorney, Northampton County, Pennsylvania 1992-present;
  Elected in 1991 with approximately 60% of vote in primary and general elections; defeated 3-term incumbent District Attorney; re-elected, unopposed in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
• President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute 2002-2003; President of Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
  1999-2000; served as Vice-President and Secretary Treasurer of Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and Member of the Executive Board 1995-2003
• Instructor of Criminal Law Evidence and Constitutional Law, part-time, Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1982-1984; 2003-present
• Appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Committee on Capital Litigation, 2003
• Testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, Sub-committee on Immigration matters, 2003
• Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Attorney General, 2008
• Testified numerous times before State House and Senate Committees on criminal justice issues including capital punishment, insanity defense, powers of the judiciary, racial profiling and guns and violence issues
• Appointed Special Deputy Attorney General 1996-1997 by Attorney General investigating matters in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties
• Appointed to Attorney General’s Transition Team, 1996; served as Chairman of Drug Law Committee and wrote final report of Committee
• Appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency 1995; Chairman of Technology and Automation Committee 1996-1998
• Appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to Governor’s Transition Team 1995; served on Governor’s Crime Task Force and Corrections, Probation and Parole Task Force
• Represented Lehigh Valley at White House Briefing on President Clinton’s Crime Bill 1994
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association; Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee 1994-1996
• Lecturer at Pennsylvania Bar Association Statewide Criminal Law Symposium 1999, 2001
• Solicitor to Bethlehem City Council 1986-1991
• Served as special counsel to City of Easton investigating alleged Ethics Act Violation 1989
• Assistant Public Defender, Northampton County 1982-1986
• Assistant City Solicitor, City of Bethlehem 1981-1982
• Served as Independent Special Counsel investigating alleged police misconduct, Moore Township, Pennsylvania
• Served as Solicitor of Northampton County Constables Association
• Trial attorney, private practice of law, civil and criminal practice 1980-1996

Legal Associations

• Supreme Court of the United States
• U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Federal District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Northampton County Court of Common Pleas
• Northampton County Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, past member
• Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
• National District Attorneys Association

Recognition

• Social Security Administration, Philadelphia Regional Anti-Fraud Award for prosecuting Identity Theft cases, 2003
• Bethlehem UNICO Man of the Year 2003
• Easton UNICO Man of the Year 1998
• Bethlehem Area Jaycee Distinguished Service Award 1994
• Outstanding Young Man of the Year 1983
• Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities 1976-1977
• Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society 1976
• Triangle Honor Society, Moravian College 1976
• Citizenship-Leadership Award from Veterans of Foreign Wars 1973
• History Award from Daughters of the American Revolution 1973
• John F. Kennedy Award for Leadership in Student Government 1973

Community Involvement

• Notre Dame High School, Middle States Evaluation Committee 2005-2006
• Allentown Catholic Diocese Board of Education 1996-1998
• Bethlehem Northeast Little League, Assistant Coach, 4 years
• St. Anne’s Church Finance Council 1995-1998
• Bethlehem School District Task Force on violence in the schools 1993
• Board of Directors, Bethlehem Y.M.C.A. 1989-1991
• Easton Area School District Task Force on school safety 1995
• Bethlehem Area Jaycees – past member
• Moravian College Alumni Association – past member
• Boy’s Club of Bethlehem Fundraising Project 1984
• South East Neighborhood Association, Board member

Personal

• Born November 12, 1955
• Married, 1981 to former Diana Goretti
• 3 children

Contact The Campaign

• Citizens For John Morganelli
  • PO Box 1426
  • Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18016-1426

Contributions

The most important support you can give to John Morganelli is your vote. However, campaigns require money to communicate a message to voters. We hope you will click on the link below and make the most generous contribution you can. Thank you for your support.

To Contribute By Credit Card:

To contribute to District Attorney John Morganelli's campaign committee via credit card, please fill out the form at the "Donate" page. All credit card transactions are transferred via our secure server for your protection. Donations are NOT tax deductible, and corporate contributions are prohibited under Pennsylvania law. PAC contributions and partnership contributions ARE acceptable. There are NO limits on the amount of contributions under Pennsylvania law.

To Contribute By Mail:

• Mail checks payable to "Citizens for John Morganelli"
  • Citizens for John M. Morganelli
  • PO Box 1426Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18016-1426

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