The Honorable Emil Giordano (Ret.)
January 2021 Justinian Member of the Month

The Honorable Emil Giordano (Ret.) is Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice Group at Norris McLaughlin, P.A., where he focuses his practice on commercial and estate litigation, and alternative dispute resolution (adjudicating mediations and arbitrations).

Judge Giordano served as a presiding judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, Third Judicial District. He was Northampton County's first administrative Judge of the Orphans' County Division, overseeing estates and trusts of the county, and was named to the Statewide Orphans' Court Task Force, an organization charged with implementing changes to Orphans' Court. He was also the first Judge in Pennsylvania to institute guardianship certification requirements for the protection of senior citizens.

For fifteen years, Judge Giordano served as judge for many jury trials and non-jury trials, hearings and motions, and a wide range of disputes under Pennsylvania and Federal Law, including construction, commercial litigation, professional malpractice, CERCLA, Civil Rights, condemnations, labor and land use appeals, criminal, and domestic relations.

As an arbitrator and mediator, Judge Giordano is certified through Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute in Advanced Mediation, is a fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators, and is affiliated with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Mediation. He serves as an arbitrator and mediator to the Judicial Roster, Real Estate, and Pennsylvania at Large ADR Panels of Distinguished Neutrals for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution.

Judge Giordano is Vice-Chair of the Orphans' Court Procedural Rules Committee for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He is a Diplomate Member for mediation for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Judge Giordano serves on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Guardianship Certification. He is also a member of the Board of Governors for Saint Thomas More Society and the Northampton County Bar Association Wills and Trusts Committee Lecturer. In 2005, Judge Giordano was the first judicial recipient to receive the Lehigh Valley Crime Victims Council Award for Outstanding Commitment to Victim's Rights. He was also a recipient of the Bethlehem Catholic High School Distinguished Graduate Award.

Born in Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents, Judge Giordano was the first to attend high school and is a graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School. A proud Moravian College alumnus, he currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for Undergraduate classes.

Una Piccola Conversazione

1. How long have you been a member of the Justinian Society?

15 years

2. Why did you join the Justinian Society, and what do you hope to gain from membership?

To enjoy the comradery of other Italian lawyers and judges.

3. What do you love or enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy meeting and helping people resolve their cases.

4. How would you define success?

Success is knowing that your life is full and the Lord is responsible for it.

5. Who or what inspires you?

The relief that people experience when their cases are resolved

6. If you could choose anyone in history as a mentor, who would you choose and why?

I had the best mentor I could ever ask for: my father. He was an Italian immigrant who came to this country with no education or money and made a good life for his family.

7. Name one valuable lesson you've learned in your life and that you would advise other members to follow?

Set your goals high and do your best every day.

8. What's something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

I'm the lead guitarist of a band comprised of lawyers and judges known as the Verdict.

9. What's the last book you read?

Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell.

10. What's your favorite thing about Philadelphia, i.e., sports team, restaurant, museum, history, music etc.?

 I love visiting my son who lives in Philadelphia and enjoying great restaurants.