The Mercer County League of Women Voters and The Herald posed five questions to the eight candidates for two Mercer County Common Pleas court judgeships. The following are their answers to the last of the five questions. Their answers, one a day, were published Sunday through today in The Herald.

The rise in the number of family law cases was one of the reasons the fourth judgeship was created. What experience do you have with family law and what can the law do to "fix" broken families?

   » CHRISTOPHER ST. JOHN

Approximately 15 percent of my law practice has been devoted to family law cases such as divorce, custody, support, dependency and protection from abuse continuously over the past 19 years. The legal system is no more capable of fixing broken families than psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, caseworkers or school teachers. The court can order evaluations and treatment, and monitor progress and compliance. However, the ultimate benefit is beyond the court's control because of such factors as extensive mental health issues, deep emotional scars and the unwillingness of some parties to cooperate fully. While many of the participants will receive benefits from various programs, there is no quick fix, and in some cases, no fix at all for the damage inflicted. Yet, we must always encourage progress.

   » JOHN REED

As president of the Bar Association, last year I helped prepare the Bar Association's report explaining the need for a fourth judgeship. This report was the only study conducted on this issue. It included all available information and was shared with local news media. As reflected in that report, between 1994 and 2001, the overall number of court cases increased by 48 percent, however family law cases such as divorces declined by 18 percent and cases involving abused and neglected children declined by 66 percent. Conversely, child and spousal support cases increased by 64 percent, the highest for all categories of cases. For the past four years, I was the court-appointed legal advisor to the Court's Domestic Relations Division, the office that handles and enforces these types of cases.

   » WILLIAM G. McCONNELL, JR.

Contrary to the premise of this question, Mercer County has not reported an overall increase in Family and Orphan's Court case filings in the last three years. My experience in family law was acquired while serving in the Marine Corps as the Chief Legal Assistance Officer at Parris Island, South Carolina. In this capacity, I supervised other attorneys and was responsible for providing family law counseling and representation to service members and their dependents in the area of adoption, divorce, child support and spousal support. I do not believe that the law can "fix" broken families. However, I do feel that an effective justice system can protect the victims of broken families, especially children.

   » STEPHEN J. MIRIZIO

A substantial portion of my present practice incorporates all aspects of family law. I have experience in all areas, primarily involving divorces and issues of equitable distribution along with child custody. I am not certain if it is the bench which could fix broken families as in the vast majority of cases once the parties are in the presence of the court, reconciliation becomes more difficult given the adversarial nature of a courtroom presence. A suggestion to fix broken families would be the implementation of a practical process, by way of example, increasing the present three required marriage counseling sessions to a number of sessions recommended by the professionals in the area is there is to be a realistic effort for reconciliation.

   » MARGARET T. LUCAS

Having concentrated my practice in family law for the past ten years, I am one of the most experienced family law practitioners in Mercer County. I am a member of both the Mercer County and Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Committees. I serve as the chairperson of the county committee and am on the executive council of the statewide committee. I have taught courses and presented seminars locally and in the Pittsburgh area. The law cannot "fix" broken families, but an experienced, compassionate and dedicated judge can work with governmental and social service agencies to help develop policies and programs to intervene in domestic matters before they become unmanageable. Prompt, decisive action in family law cases, especially custody matters at an early stage, can discourage repetitive and destructive litigation.

   » JAMES M. GOODWIN

A significant part of my practice has been and continues to be in the area of family law; divorce and equitable distribution; custody and visitation; child and spousal support. While the law cannot fix broken families, judges without experience and a disposition for this field can make the problem worse. In resolving cases, the courts can minimize the amount of trauma inherent in the process while at the same time, providing a fair and timely resolution of the dispute. The courts must guard against allowing the process to be used for vindictive purposes but must be willing to use the full power of the law when necessary.

   » JAMES NEVANT

I have represented individuals in the full range of family law matters over the years. As the former Chief Public Defender, Assistant District Attorney, Sheriff's Solicitor and school and municipal practitioner, I routinely see how "family law issues" manifest themselves in both predictable and unpredictable ways in our lives. The law itself cannot "fix broken families." But, a judge, knowledgeable in the law, decisive in action but tempered by experience and fairness of spirit, can assist those families who truly want to be "fixed" to do so. For those who don't take up the challenge, that judge must, at least, try to ensure the protection of the innocent and deserving.

   » JOANN M. JOFERY

I have extensive experience both as a lawyer and a social worker in all aspects of family law including not only adoption, divorce, custody and support, but also domestic violence and child abuse, neglect and dependency. I don't think the law can "fix" broken families. I think the court can call to account the agencies and systems which serve families and insist on the highest quality of intervention services. Cases involving the welfare of children (whether they are custody or juvenile court) need to receive priority scheduling. Agencies and court personnel (including attorneys) must give this type of case the attention it deserves and judges must insist on nothing less.