A. Well-known Cases in Judge Halbert's Courtroom

• "STAR WITNESSES GIVE JURORS A LIFT" (1982)
  Philadelphia Daily News
  Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton and Phillies' catcher Darren Daulton were witnesses in coach Gus Hoefling's lawsuit against the company responsible for maintenance of the elevator which allegedly cost Hoefling his career and active lifestyle.
  
  
• "PARALYZED CHILD TESTIFIES IN DRUG WAR TRIAL"
  Hampshire Gazette, Mass.-- December 20, 1988
  "SUMMERS JURY SEES CRIME SITE - TOURS AREA WHERE BOY, 7, WAS SHOT"
  Philadelphia Daily News
  "Mr. Summers . . . you are trying to kill this city I dearly love." Judge Halbert --"JURY FINDS SUMMERS SHOT RALPH" -- "VERDICT TRIGGERS FUROR"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- January 4, 1989
  "DEFENDING THE CITY"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- January 5, 1989
  "IT'S A CRYING SHAME"
  Daily News -- September 22, 1989
  Judge Halbert approved the jury's guilty verdict in the highly emotional trial of Lonnie Summers for shooting and paralyzing 7-year-old child, which symbolized to many what's going wrong in the city's poorest neighborhoods with drugs, crime, and the plight of children and homeless.
  
  
• "CRIPPLING INDIFFERENCE"
  Sports Illustrated -- November 6, 1995
  The former hockey player Glen Seabrooke, won a $5.5 million jury verdict in Judge Halbert's courtroom against the Philadelphia Flyers' former team doctor -- as large as any award to a professional athlete in the 20-year history of lawsuits by players against their doctors.
  
  
• "IT'S DEATH FOR HOOKER CRIME -- Killer prostitute spits at jury after being sentenced to die."
  Philadelphia Daily News -- April 9, 1992
  Horrific murders were committed by defendant who engaged in related illegal sex acts. Punishment for the crimes was announced after the trial in Judge Halbert's courtroom. The defendant spit at the jurors who sentenced her to death.
  
  
• "ESCAPED PRISONER QUITS CITY HALL - LEDGE STANDOFF"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- December 13, 1979
  "MAN TALKED OFF 6TH FLOOR CITY HALL LEDGE"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- December 14, 1979
  A robbery prisoner with psychiatric problems jumped out an open window from Judge Halbert's courtroom onto a sixth-floor ledge. He mostly stayed on the ledge silently for two hours while Mayor Rizzo, Judge Halbert and other officials tried to talk him back inside.
  

B. Improvements to Legal System and Government:
Probation Alternatives - Election Supervision - TV in Courtrooms - Public Image of Judiciary

• "SOME OFFENDERS TO GET JOB TRAINING"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- October 11, 1980
  Judge Halbert unveiled a program that will permit judges to send young offenders convicted of minor crimes to a residential training program that results in job placement, as an alternative to jail or probation.
  
  
• "JUDGE OFFERS ADVICE ON COMMUNICATION"
  Legal Intelligencer -- October 1, 1990
  Judge Halbert offers advice about how skillful and sensitive communication by judges improves the courtroom experience, especially for jurors, and the public image of the judiciary.
  
  
• "IS JUSTICE PRE-EMPTED BY CAMERA IN COURT?"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- February 2, 1978
  "BUT FIRST, YOUR HONOR . . . A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR"
  The Bulletin -- April 27, 1978
  "HALBERT ISN'T TYPICAL JUDGE, HE EVEN WANTS TV IN COURTROOM - SCHOOL CHILDREN SPARKED DRIVE"
  Philadelphia Journal -- December 21, 1977
  "DOUBTS OVER COURTROOM TV"
  Sunday Bulletin -- December 4, 1977
  Judge Halbert advocates televising live courtroom proceedings as vital education for children and all citizens, with delayed broadcasts and certain other limitations to avoid compromising safety, civility and the legal integrity of the trials.
  
  
• "ELECTION '79 NEEDS STORES, CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUES"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- April 5, 1979
  "THREE JUDGES PATCH UP A CREAKY ELECTION SYSTEM"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- April 23, 1979
  "MACHINE PROBLEM PERILS VOTING"
  Daily News -- May 8, 1979
  "ACTION FOR ELECTION REFORM"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- June 22, 1979
  "STUDY URGES TRAINED VOTE DIRECTOR REPLACE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- September 18, 1979
  "MEANWHILE, THE VOTING MACHINES ARE MOLDERING AWAY"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- July 27, 1986
  Judge Halbert served on a three judge panel that supervised Philadelphia elections in lieu of three City Commissioners campaigning for reelection, attempting to correct systemic problems with voting machine distribution and maintenance, fears of election fraud, and other election problems with an antiquated voting system. The panel ordered a federal probe and investigation of the poor storage conditions for Philadelphia's voting machines, and issued a report that the city should obtain a more modern, waterproof, dust-free storage environment.
  

C. Education and Appreciation about Legal Matters

• "LAW INTERNS IN FRONT ROW TO JUSTICE"
  Legal Intelligencer -- July 11, 1991
  Judge Halbert arranges for his 20 summer interns to see and hear every aspect of Philadelphia's court system, an extraordinary learning opportunity for law school students and others.
  
  
• "ISRAELI STUDENTS VISIT COURTROOM"
  Jewish Times -- December 11, 1980
  Judge Halbert hosts foreign exchange students from Haifa in his Courtroom, along with students from Masterman School in Philadelphia.
  
  
• "PHILA. PUPILS TAKE COURSE IN LEGAL GAME AT CITY HALL
  Judge, Wife Team Up on Courtroom Class"
  The Evening Bulletin -- January 8, 1976
  Seniors from Bok Vo-Tech School listened from front row seats to Judge Halbert's running commentary on on-going public procedures in his Courtroom, educating them through personal involvement in the matters at hand.
  
  
• "LAW-RELATED EDUCATION STRESSED FOR PUPILS"
  Easton Express -- November 13, 1979
  Judge Halbert advocates moral and legal education of young people by bringing them into a live courtroom where they have direct experiences that make them think, as the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals learn about a law-related education program offered by the American Bar Association. Mrs. Marcia Halbert explains her role as liaison in the Philadelphia public school system to reach students first in the classroom then to arrange visits with judges and city officials for observation and discussion.
  
  
• "THIS JUDGE LEANS TO THE LIGHTER SIDE WITH HIS JURORS"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- November 12, 1984
  Judge Halbert gives his juries the unimaginable "kid-glove" treatment says one juror, and keeps a light-hearted, humanistic perspective on his role as judge without compromising the seriousness of his courtroom.
  
  
• "JUDGE RULES EDUCATORS GUILTY OF NEGLECT"
  Evening Chronicle, Allentown PA -- November 13, 1979
  Judge Halbert urges educators to take initiative to create participatory law-related educational programs as the most effective way to reach and teach young people about morality and the necessity of law and order in society.
  
  
• "THE JUDGE DESERVES TRIBUTE"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- March 17, 1981
  Judge Halbert arranged for portrait of well admired retired Judge Adrian Bonnelly to be hung in Courtroom 676 where they both presided.
  
  
• "WITH NO BABY SITTER, MOM TAKES KID TO COURT."
  Juror Brings Along Daughter, 2, to Trial
  Daily News -- September 28, 1990
  A juror brought her 2 year old daughter into the Deliberation Room during a burglary trial. Judge Halbert, who was concerned about a mistrial, arranged baby sitters for the child while the jury deliberated.
  

D. Theater Fun & Participation

• "SEND IN THE CLOWNS"
  The Shingle - Philadelphia Bar Association Quarterly Magazine -- Summer 1988
  Judge Leon Katz shares some anecdotes of Judge Halbert's humorous and provocative side in anticipation of his creativity as script coordinator of the upcoming Theatre Wing production.
  
  
• Overviews of Judge Halbert's Theatrical career
  "FROM THE BENCH TO THE FOOTLIGHTS -
  JUDGE MARVIN HALBERT: JURIST AND THESPIAN"
  Legal Intelligencer -- March 22, 1996
  "JUDGE MARVIN HALBERT QUED FOR PLEAS & PLAYS"
  University City News -- December, 1992
  "LED BY HALBERT"
  Legal Intelligencer -- October 22, 1992
  
  
• Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury
  "SINGING LAWYERS"
  USA Today - November 19, 1991
  "THEY'RE TRYING TO DO JUSTICE TO GILBERT AND SULLIVAN"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- November 12, 1991
  "COURTING SUCCESS"
  Jewish Exponent -- November 15, 1991
  "GILBERT & SULLIVAN ON TRIAL IN PHILADELPHIA'S CITY HALL"
  "TRIAL BY JURY PRESENTED IN CITY HALL FOR 10 DAYS"
  Legal Intelligencer -- October 10 & 11, 1990
  "GILBERT & SULLIVAN ? SOUNDS LIKE A LAW FIRM"
  Daily News -- October 19, 1990
  
  
• Trial of William Penn
  "HOLDING COURT - PENN STANDS ACCUSED BEFORE MODERN JUDGES"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- June 18, 1982
  
  
• Bicenntennail Celebration - The Constitution Capers
  "CLICKING THEIR HEELS FOR HISTORY"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- March 28, 1987
  "LAWYERS LEARN TO TAP DANCE"
  Retainer -- March 25, 1987
  
  
• 1776
  "KNIGHTSBRIDGE THEATER COMPANY"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- October 7, 1991
  
  
• Twelve Angry Men
  Benefit for Ariel Theater
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- November 29, 1995
  
  
• Sly Fox
  "THE SCENE" Annenberg Center performance
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- October 20, 1987
  
  
• Bench-Bar conference entertainment by Theatre Wing
  "WHAT A SHOW!"
  Retainer -- October 19, 1988
  
  
• Of Thee I Sing
  "POLITICAL SATIRE OPENS IN CITY HALL"
  Legal Intelligencer -- October 22, 1992
  
  
• Verdict in Detroit
  "BIAS TAKES CENTER STAGE IN BAR ASSOCIATION'S PLAY"
  Jewish Exponent -- April 26, 1991
  
  
• The "Off-Broad Street" Lunchtime Theater
  "LOCAL PERFORMERS TO ENTERTAIN JURORS, PUBLIC"
  Press Release -- April 24, 2000
  
  
• Balooney Tunes
  "JUDGING BY HIS PERFORMANCE .. HE'S ALL HAM, & HE LOVES IT"
  Daily News -- April 7, 1988
  
  
• TV ABC Channel 6 - Scandals featuring vignettes of scandalous court cases
  "PHILADELPHIA JUDGE, LAWYER TO APPEAR IN ABC PROGRAM"
  Legal Intelligencer -- October 28, 1983
  

E. Everyday Matters - Extraordinary Citizen

• "SEPTA ORDERED TO INSTALL AD-SIZE NO SMOKING SIGNS"
  The Bulletin -- January 25, 1979
  On behalf of thousands of SEPTA riders who quietly endure smoke and loud music on public transportation, Judge Halbert ordered SEPTA to do more when convicting a rude rider for beating a bus driver who tried to force him to turn down his loud radio.
  
  
• "PUTTNG DOWN SEPTA'S BOORS"
  The Bulletin -- January 29, 1979
  Praise for Judge Halbert's public lecture to SEPTA for its lack of sufficient rules and enforcement to make public transportation in Philadelphia a civil experience.
  
  
• "ALONG FOR THE RIDE"
  Legal Intelligencer -- September 29, 1995
  Photo essay of downtown Philadelphia bike ride among Judge Halbert and two attorneys who had publicly debated the discourteous and potentially dangerous riding practices of city bicyclists.
  
  
• "MATCHMAKER - JUDGE FILLS BILL FOR INTERFAITH COUPLES"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- January 21, 1982
  Judge Halbert marries many Jews and non-Jews. Even though he enjoys performing marriage ceremonies, he wishes to give more of that interfaith business back to the rabbis, to better preserve Judaism and its traditions.
  
  
• "1ST MARITAL BUSS ABOARD SEPTA BUS"
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- August 18, 1996
  "THEY WENT BY BUS TO ROAD OF LOVE"
  Philadelphia Daily News - August 19, 1996
  Judge Halbert married couple aboard a SEPTA bus.
  
  
• "HEART-FELT"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- July 1, 1992
  Judge Halbert's exceptional courtesy earned his 20 law school interns a spontaneous invitation to a racetrack dinner as guests of a bride and groom to be wed by the Judge.
  
  
• "...THE JOB OF KEEPING PHILADELPHIA CLEAN AND TIDY...?"
  Philadelphia Inquirer
  Photo of Judge Halbert setting an example of weeding a green plot east of City Hall rather than allow weeds to overgrow it.
  
  
• "CLOTHES ENCOUNTERS - IT TAKES A BIG MAN TO WEAR A BIG HAT"
  Philadelphia Daily News -- February 23, 1991
  Judge Halbert explains how he came to wear his signature cowboy hat . . . all year round.
  
  

• OFF THE BENCH AND OFF THE CUFF, weekly newspaper column
  Judge Halbert made a major contribution to public discourse of current issues within the legal profession with almost 300 full-page weekly interviews over seven years
  Pennsylvania Law Journal Reporter, a state-wide legal publication
  final article of this seven year series: "JUDGE MARVIN HALBERT SAYS 'GOODBYE'"
  March 23, 1987
  Example of his weekly column: "VIEWING WITH ALARM: TV IN THE COURTS"
  April 1, 1985
  
  
• "ELECTIONS '79 - AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE CONCLUDING ACT"
  Legal Intelligencer --December 7, 1979
  
  
• "THE COURTS AREN'T TO BLAME"
  probation and crime
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- March 4, 1981
  
  
• "LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT"
  Over 70% of probationary sentences successfully completed ...
  American Bar Association Journal -- June 1981
  
  
• "HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN 'COURT' JUDGES"
  Legal Intelligencer -- June 25, 1981
  
  
• "THE PERIL OF CYCLISTS"
  Letter to the Editor
  Philadelphia Inquirer -- September 6, 1985
  
  
• "PITTSBURGH V. PHILADELPHIA: A TALE OF TWO CITIES
  . . . ONE ON ONE WITH JUSTICE RALPH CAPPY"
  Legal Intelligencer -- May 1991 in four parts
  
  
• "WHAT'S THE BIG SECRET?"
  Mandatory sentencing
  Daily News -- April 17, 1992
  
  
• "NEW COURTROOM ARRANGEMENT PROPOSED FOR JURY TRIALS"
  Retainer -- October 5, 1992
  
  
• "SHOULD JUDGES GET OFF THE BENCH?"
  Judicature - The Journal of the American Judicature Society
  June - July 1990
  
  
• "10 PRESCRIPTIONS FOR JURY STRESS"
  Legal Intelligencer -- February 9, 1998
  
  
• "10 DAYS PAY FOR 20 DAYS OR WORK -- SHAME ON PENNSYLVANIA"
  underpaid senior judges
  Legal Intelligencer -- September 12, 1994
  
  
• "LET'S STOP PUTTING QUALIFIED JUDGES OUT TO PASTURE"
  October 1992