Stephen Corr, Republican Candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

We were pleased to host Stephen Corr, Republican candidate for a judgeship on the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.  As a judge he would serve a ten-year term before coming up for a retention vote.

In Pennsylvania, The Courts of Common Pleas have original jurisdiction in all criminal felony cases and original jurisdiction in all civil cases in which the amount in controversy is generally more than $15,000. Courts of common pleas have appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of some state administrative agencies. Judges of the Common Pleas Courts are elected to ten-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district. In districts with seven or fewer judges, the president judge with the longest continuous service holds this position.

Steve Coor is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (1989) and Villanova Law School (1992).  He has practiced in Bucks County for more than 25 years.  He describes himself as a “compassionate and fair litigator and has represented individuals, small businesses, and large corporations in a variety of individual and class action civil litigation matters.

Steve has been lead trial counsel in approximately 70 jury trials.  Since 2001 Steve has represented the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks in the first lawsuit filed against Bin Laden and Iran for the logistical and financial support Iran provided to the terrorists.

In addition to his professional work Steve has been an active member of the community having served on several township boards in Warrington and 12 years on the Central Bucks School Board is a former member of the Bucks County Bar Association Board of Directors and is an active member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Warrington.

While Steve is openly running as a “conservative Republican”, he vigorously maintains that his political and religious beliefs can play no role in his hoped for on the Court of Common Pleas … as in his role as a Judge he is bound to “follow the law” irrespective or any personal views.

In response to some questioning, Steve stated:

  • The judge on the Supreme Court he most admires is Clarence Thomas.
  • He was impressed with Amy Comey Barret’s confirmation hearing as she went through it without any notes.
  • He positions himself as an originalist where the Constitution is concerned and seemed to indicate he did not subscribe to the view it is a living document.
  • He is a pro-life Catholic and supporter of the death penalty.
  • When asked about recent Supreme Court decisions placing objections to otherwise secular regulations, he supports a more literal interpretation of the First Amendment’s freedom of religion right.
  • Steve appears also support a literal interpretation of the Second Amendments right to bear arms and as set forth in Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution which provides even more rights for gun owners.

While he has a secure job as a partner with the law firm of Begley, Carlin and Mandio, he is passionate about “giving back” … something he believes he can do as a Judge.

In summation, he stressed his has broad experience in civil, criminal, family and orphan law.  IF elected he has been assured, he would be assigned to the civil courts to help relieve a significant backlog which resulted from the COVID pandemic restrictions.

The Club thanked Steve Corr for his time and wished him well in the upcoming November election.