Judge Emil Giordano recently kicked off his campaign for the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He made his announcement at the cavernous Northampton Memorial Community Center amid dozens of empty pizza boxes. Those boxes were empty because it seemed as though the entire Lehigh Valley had cascaded into Northampton, despite single digit temperatures and mounds of snow everywhere. Some placed the number at about 600, although it could easily have been 700, It was a bipartisan crowd, too. Democrats and Republicans. Lawyers and clients. Urbanistas and country folk. It was the Lehigh Valley. Northampton Mayor Thomas Reenock put it best when he called the gathering "our favorite son's debut."

That favorite son happens to be the son of two Italian immigrants who met while learning how to speak English in night school. They came here to raise a family, and made pizzas. Lots of them. When Giordano was old enough, he made pizzas too. Lots of them. They got him through Bethlehem Catholic HS, Moravian College and Villanova Law School. He learned about hard work. He learned to respect and admired his parents and grandparents, and to admire the many people who appear before him to become naturalized citizens. Most importantly, he learned how to listen.

"The time spent behind counters, waiting on people, served me very well," Giordano said. In time, there was a law office adjacent to Pizza Village. And after 18 years of practicing law, he became a judge. For the past 12 years, he has handled that role with humility and a genuine concern for everyone who comes before him, lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

At the same time, he has taught classes at Becahi and Moravian College. But where he has excelled is as a coach to young athletes, bringing out the best in them. He has taken groups of kids and has won basketball championships despite claiming to know nothing about the sport. He knows how to motivate.

After 12 years as a judge, Emil Giordano is the same person he was before he put on a robe, according to the people in that room speaking about him.

Why is he running for the Pennsylvania Superior Court? That's the state's busiest court, an appellate court that reviews the decisions of common pleas judges in all 67 counties. Just to keep up, the 15 judges on that bench must each hand down one or two opinions daily.

Giordano already knows about hard work. He pledged that he would be a "common sense judge who follows the law." He also believes that the best person to evaluate the work of other judges is a person who once sat where they are sitting.

Business Matters' Tony Iannelli served as master of ceremonies and shared a story he had heard that very day from DA John Morganelli. Giordano, when he was still practicing law, once challenged Morganelli in a DA's race. That night, as the numbers came in, it was clear that Morganelli would be the victor. Instead of calling Morganelli to concede, Giordano actually walked into the Democratic stronghold and congratulated him in person.

That's class. That's Giordano.

Aside from Iannelli, Giordano invited Judges Anthony Beltrami and Paula Roscioli to his reception. Because they are seeking retentions this year, they are permitted to attend political gatherings. But Giordano and Iannelli decided against calling them up onto the stage. "Four Italians on the stage at one time might be a RICO violation," Giordano explained.

Giordano also introduced Michael George, the president judge of Adams County, who is also seeking a seat on the Superior Court.