Lobel Helps Marijuana Program Roll Out

By Cassie Hepler

There may be more of a familiar smell in the air in Philadelphia this Spring and we have former District Attorney Jodi Lobel to thank.

“I created two reforms, one was the small amount marijuana (SAM) program,” she said. “Marijuana offen

JODI LOBEL for judge… always fighting the good fight

ses were expensive and lengthy, regardless of your past record. Now they can take a class, pay for a class, the case is closed and expunged.”

This allowed people to have a second chance because it ruins employment, education and lives, she stressed for such a petty drug.

“I also did the accelerated misdemeanor program (AMP) for misdemeanors which requires 12-18 hours of community service,” she said. It worked so well that it prompted development of AMP2 with higher level misdemeanors or multiple offenders.”

There is no conviction but a harsher punishment.

She has served with two DA’s, Lyyne Abraham and Seth Williams, and “they both put me in positions of leadership to make important changes to the system,” she said.

“Seth will take me back (to the DA’s office) if needed, but it’s hard enough quitting the first time,” she jokes, as DA’s are not allowed to have political affiliations while being a public servant.

Under Abraham, she was a line prosecutor, including 4 years in the homicide unit and was appointed chief of felony waiver unit (for people who waived right to bench trials) from 2002-2010.

She directly supervised 180 attorneys as well as gun court – where first time people charged with gun offenses stood trial under one judge to keep consistency.

“In the leadership capacity, there are problems with way things are being handled. We were prosecuting all of them. There’s really no justice and victims are not getting relief,” she said.

In 2010, she worked with Williams and restructured the flow to be fair and efficient. From that came the diversion programs, which diverted cases out of the courtroom and into other types of resolution community service, treatment, classes (for misdemeanors) so they are fair to everybody.

“I had a team of four people to implement geographic prosecution, work with people in the neighborhood, got people involved and made the process more transparent and successful,” she said.

“I believe that in running for judge, I will always remember the public serves the public. People know me and have seen me on the bus or subway. I’ve always been invested in Philadelphia,” she said. “When you ascend to the bench, that’s where the job begins, not ends.”

Having implemented all these reforms, it helped to prosecute the most serious and divert the least serious cases.

“On the bench, people are educated on the process. People deserve to know how the process works so there’s less distrust of the system,” she said.

Williams appointed her deputy of the trial division where she supervised 6 geographic zones, homicide unit, family violence and sexual assault unit and supervised the 18 supervisors of each dept. She was the first woman to do so.

Her most recent assignment was the deputy of training where she created and implemented a training program for all levels of attorneys.

“I not only trained in the DA’s office, but statewide and internationally,” she said. “I was invited with Seth Williams to Bangkok, Thailand, by the State Department for a leadership training for female prosecutors in December 2014. And I served on the Criminal Rules Committee up until last month.”

Her family is also full of public service as well.

“My mom grew up in Strawberry Mansion and went to N.E. High School, my father grew up in Onley right near Broad and Olney near 15^th St at Central High. My maternal grandparents are in Fox Chase. My father was a Democratic committeeperson in the 63rd ward in the late 60’s. My paternal grandmother was also a poll worker. My parents have always been helpers, doers and very civic service-minded. My mother, a tiny little lady, still walks town watch at 20^th and Lombard,” she said.

“My father was an attorney since 1965 and he wanted me to run,” she said, tearing up. “He was suffering from health issues and passed a couple weeks ago, right before my birthday.”

Her father was not the only one who saw potential in her.

“I was approached by judges and defense attorneys to run,” she said. “They wanted qualified people in the system. They put the idea in my head that this would be the time to run. I took a lot of risk, but tempered by all the support.”

“I have three sisters, one sister in the music industry in the box office union and the other two in NYC. All three are very actively supporting me as is my husband, who had 4 daughters from a prior marriage – the eldest girl is married to a Local 98 electrician. My son, 10, the youngest, is very proud of me. They had a fourth grade trial, I was the judge and he was so excited.”

Her son is not the only person that holds Lobel dear to their heart.

“People who I have helped call me later years to thank me. I have impacted their lives and they’ve impacted mine. I get text, emails and messages from people who remember me from years ago,” she said. “Recently, my husband and I walked into Sam’s Club and a woman burst into tears. Mine is a different investment into the community.”

Even if Lobel doesn’t make it to the actual bench time around, her unwavering support and dedication to people will assure her a future spot on the bench.

“The perception that the public has of the criminal justice system is horrible,” she said. “Public servants serve the public. If people are treated with respect and are part of the process, then no matter what their results will feel satisfied. I have excellent judgement. I deal with real lives for the past 25 years and fairness follows,” she said. “I run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and volunteer regularly but it’s always some sort of public service. I loved to volunteer even before being a trainer at the DA’s office. I enjoy educating people about the criminal justice system.”

Lobel wants to see harmony restored to the city.

“I wish people would get along. The level of violence is distressing to me, people are reactionary and impulsive. I’m proactive and solution oriented. If people would be more proactive in their approach to solving issues, we would be far better off.”

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