Norris McLaughlin PA
515 West Hamilton Street
Suite 502
Allentown, PA 18101
Over nearly a decade, The Honorable Emil Giordano (Ret.) has served full-time as an arbitrator and mediator, handling more than 1,000 personal injury, commercial, estate, and construction matters. Industry organizations such as PBI, PDI, PAJ, and ACCTM have invited him to present on impasses, deadlocks, case preparation, and practical strategies for effective mediation.
After nearly 14 years as a trial judge who received the highest rating by the PA Judicial Evaluation Commission, The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania appointed Judge Giordano as a referee, often advising on major cases reviewed by the Court. Judge Giordano also serves as a Northampton County Settlement Master since 2019. In this position, he advises on all types of civil cases assigned by the Northampton Court of Common Pleas. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania selected Judge Giordano as Chair of the Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee.
Judge Giordano is currently a Diplomate Member for the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. He formerly served on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Guardianship Certification. In 2005, he was the first judicial recipient of the Lehigh Valley Crime Victims Council Award for Outstanding Commitment to Victim’s Rights. Judge Giordano received the Title IX Hearing Chairs Certification and Title IX Hearing Officer & Decision-Maker Certification from the Association of Title IX Administrators.
He was Northampton County’s first administrative Judge of the Orphans’ County Division, overseeing estates and trusts of the County. He 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.
Judge Giordano was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in Litigation: Labor and Employment since 2024 and in Super Lawyers® and The Morning Call’s Top Lawyers List since 2025 for his work in ADR field.
Born in Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents, Judge Giordano was the first to attend high school, graduating from Bethlehem Catholic High School. A proud Moravian College alumnus, he formerly served as an Adjunct Professor for undergraduate / graduate classes at Moravian and DeSales University.
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2005 – 2018 – Moravian College
Adjunct Professor – Teaching the following Undergraduate classes:
•Corrections in America
•Criminal Law and Society
•Crimes and Courts
•Criminal Law and Process
•Criminal Law and Evidence
•Family Law
2004 – 2018 – Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, Easton, PA
Judge, Third Judicial District
•Presided over jury and non-jury, criminal, civil, and family court matters.
•Conducted numerous and complex civil and criminal matters including death penalty cases.
•Participated in over 100 jury trials including capital cases.
2013 – 2018 – Orphans’ Court Section of Northampton County, Easton, PA
Administrative Judge, Third Judicial District
•First in Pennsylvania to require certification of guardians.
2011 – 2018 – DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
Adjunct Professor – Teaching the following Graduate Master of Criminal Justice classes:
•Advanced Issues in the U.S. Constitution and Criminal Law
•Teaches the following Undergraduate classes:
•Issues in Criminal Law
•Criminal Procedure
•Senior Seminar
2007 – 2010 – Domestic Relations Section of Northampton County Court, Easton, PA
Administrative Judge, Third Judicial District
•Within first year, successfully led the Section to meet all four state-mandated performance measures for the first time in its history.
•Through tenure, the Section continued to achieve its ;als and receive state incentive payments.
1988 – 2003 – Giordano Law Offices, Private Law Practice, Bethlehem, PA
Founding Attorney and Lead Counsel
•Litigated major civil, personal injury, construction and commercial cases in Federal and State courts.
•Tried over 20 jury trials.
•Co-counsel for municipal defendants in CERCLA litigation in Federal courts.
•Represented plaintiffs and defendants in Federal Civil Rights actions.
•Represented municipalities and contractors in competitive bidding and complex construction litigation.
•Represented municipalities and churches in RLUIPA cases.
•Oversaw two attorneys and five support staff.
•Served as Solicitor to multiple municipalities
2001 – 2003 – Hanover Township, Northampton County, Special Solicitor
1999 – 2003 – Borough of Chapman
1995 – 2003 – Borough of North Catasauqua
1994 – 2001 – Borough of Northampton
1992 – 1993 – Moore Township
1994 – 1996 – Northampton County Public Defender’s Office, Easton, PA
Assistant Public Defender
1992 – 2003 – Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club
Solicitor
1990 – Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office, Allentown, PA
Assistant Public Defender
1990 – 1995 – Upper Mount Bethel Township Policeman’s Association
Solicitor
1987 – 1998 – Holland, Taylor and Sorrentino, P.C., Bethlehem, PA
Associate
•Civil litigator; managed all aspects of insurance defense from discovery through trial
1985 – 1987 – Broome County District Attorney’s Office, Binghamton, NY
Assistant District Attorney
•Prosecuted summary, misdemeanor and felony cases.
•Handled grand jury presentments.
Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and Northampton County Bar Association
•Presenter
•Guardianship
•Employment
•Municipal Law
Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1985
Moravian College, B.A. in Political Science, 1982
