The Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance features the 2023 Legal Candidate Forums, where we invite candidates to discuss the issues impacting our Allegheny County legal communities during the 2023 Election Cycle.

We believe Zappala’s specific written instructions to his staff to deny plea deals to Raiford’s clients were designed to target, penalize and humiliate Raiford for addressing the systemic racism within the District Attorney’s Office

The Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance announce dates for their open candidate forums for those seeking a position as Judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and Allegheny County Magisterial District Judge.

Mark Tranquilli’s alleged actions were inexcusable, so it is disheartening to see his letter making excuses for his behavior. We see this statement as further proof that he is not fit to be a judge.

The PBLA condemns all police brutality. PBLA especially condemns the use of unjustified deadly force against black men and women. We are traumatized when we see the murder of George Floyd–and countless others– because we see ourselves in these victims.

Right here in Allegheny County, African Americans have been subjected to patterns and practices during jury selection, solely to preclude them from sitting on the jury of an African American defendant. This dark history is what makes Judge Tranquilli’s alleged actions so heinous. It strikes at the very core of the Equal Protection Clause of our state and federal constitutions. It undermines the purpose of our system of “justice for all.”