Bucks Writs - Summer 2017 - 12

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out and became Ward's campaign manager in the critical
final months leading up to the election. He spoke for the
candidate frequently at rallies and "meet the candidates"
meetings. His introductory remarks were always humorous,
but his comments about the race and the importance
of electing Ward were always eloquent and persuasive.
Ward was elected, and, pursuant to an agreement
worked out when the fusion ticket was hatched, hired an
equal number of Democrat and Republican secretaries,
detectives, and Assistant District Attorneys - three (3)
each. It was the start of a non-partisan prosecutor's office
which has become the standard ever since, as hiring today
presumably continues without regard to political affiliation.

It was 1968 - the whole country was in
ferment. All around, people distrusted
other people. In this highly charged
atmosphere, young people were being
arrested and brought into Court,
where Judge Garb was giving good
citizenship lessons to young people
who were prone to join the rioting.
His words were inspirational and
reassuring to all of us who listened and
encouraged sanity in a time of insanity.

Zeke did not go unrewarded. He was sworn in as Bucks
County's fifth judge, replacing John P. Fullam who rose
to a seat on the Federal bench of the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. Zeke took office in November, 1966.
I too became a county employee in November 1966 as a
law clerk to Judge Edward G. Biester. In those days, one
week per month was devoted to Argument Court. The
list of cases to be argued lasted two or three days, and
then the judges and their law clerks convened en masse to
discuss the arguments and assign cases for writing opinions.
Although Zeke became a judge close to the time I became
a law clerk, in those arguments and deliberations he was
already regarded by the other judges as a leader for his
wide knowledge of the law, and his application of the law
to the facts. He was an early rising star in the judicial galaxy.

War was escalating; all around, people distrusted other
people. It was the age of "Don't Trust anyone over 30." In
this highly charged atmosphere, young people were being
arrested and brought into Court, where Judge Garb was
giving good citizenship lessons to young people who were
prone to join the rioting. His words were inspirational and
reassuring to all of us who listened and encouraged sanity
in a time of insanity.

When I moved from being a law clerk to being a part time
attorney in the DA's office in 1968 (at that time the DA
and all six of his Assistants were part time), I again came in
contact with Judge Garb, this time in a different context:
as a lawyer appearing in front of him.

I tried several cases before him then, and always felt that
the Commonwealth and defendants were getting a fair
hearing. His charges to the jury were delivered without
the use of notes.

Once again, "in those days" we had about twenty criminal
trial weeks per year. Every Friday before those weeks
we alternated between miscellaneous summary criminal
matters and non-support, with the DA's office representing those seeking support, usually women, who did
not have private attorneys. As young ADAs we competed
for the right to represent the Commonwealth in front of
Judge Garb. He was fair, he was pithy, he explained his
decisions, and he was unfailingly courteous to attorneys
and parties alike. We were almost willing to pay to be
assigned to his court room. It was 1968 - the whole
country was in ferment: James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther
King; Sirhan Sirhan shot Bobby Kennedy; riots broke out
at the Democratic Convention in Chicago; the Viet Nam

In 1972, I left the DA's office to pursue a private practice
with my brother. I regarded Zeke as a judge and a
man to be emulated and admired. What is more, I
considered him a friend.
Within a couple of years, however, I heard complaints
about him, how he was rude to attorneys and perpetually
in a grumpy mood. I said they had to be wrong, that his
court room was a place where any attorney longed to

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bucks Writs - Summer 2017