389:
of
Pittsburgh police force was placed under federal receivership, or that Zappala could undertake such an action. He may be referring to a 1997 investigation of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, which was undertaken to see whether there was a "pattern or practice" of unconstitutionality or civil rights abuses, but whether this was his intended meaning or not is unclear. In response, the mayor of Pittsburgh, Ed Gainey, released a statement saying, "It is evident that Mr. Zappala, unable to rely on his 20-year career, opts instead to mislead and incite fear to sway the election," Mr. Gainey remarked. "We have reviewed the case law, and if Mr. Zappala has a case or a statute that he can cite to prove he has the authority to seize control of our Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, I'd love to see it."
343:
Zappala's office, citing unequal treatment of defendants based on who was representing them. Mariani, who had presided over the court hearing where
Raiford voiced his criticisms, feared that Zappala's email policy could infringe on defendants' rights to effective counsel and equal protection under the law. The Allegheny County Bar Association declared Zappala's email "unacceptable" in a statement on June 3, 2021, expressing concern over its potential effect on justice access and the rights of criminal defendants. They also demanded an investigation by the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board into Zappala's actions. Similarly, the
420:
393:
mean, so my man is Darth Vader." This reflects similar inaccurate statements made by
Zappala's campaign spokesperson, Mike Mikus, who said in a tweet, "It says a lot about that he would allow one dark money group funded by one billionaire to control every aspect of his campaign." Unlike this claim, Dugan's campaign was supported by the Pennsylvania Justice and Public Safety PAC, which is not a "dark money" group as it is transparent about its donor.
434:
364:, Zappala co-ordinated with Bob Howard of the North Hills GOP to organize a write-in campaign in the Republican primary. His challenger, Matt Dugan, served as the chief public defender of Allegheny County and ran as a progressive candidate, campaigning on promises of criminal justice reform and diverting low-level offenders from incarceration.
373:
I thought about suing the city. We had a consent order some years before I took office. And the city was placed under basically a receivership. And it was overseen by a federal judge. That was because policing was not being done well and there were substantial concerns about the system collapsing and
288:
Zappala defeated Conrad again in the 1999 Democratic primary election for the district attorney position, with 63% of the vote. However, Conrad successfully pursued write-in votes on the
Republican ballot, which led to Zappala facing Conrad again in the general election in November 1999. Zappala won
284:
announced he was leaving the position to become judge on the Court of Common Pleas. Zappala was appointed by the
Allegheny County's Common Pleas judges with 22 votes. His primary rival for the position, W. Christopher Conrad, received 6 votes. Shortly after his 1998 swearing-in as district attorney,
388:
Radio, Zappala discussed the idea of suing the City of
Pittsburgh to place the police force under federal receivership. He implied that this action would allow him to exercise direct authority over the City of Pittsburgh police force. There is no evidence to support this claim, either that the City
342:
The policy was criticized by legal experts, civil rights groups, public officials, and criminal justice advocates as unethical, discriminatory, vindictive, and an abuse of power. Judge
Anthony Mariani of the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court declared that he would no longer accept plea deals from
351:
Some demanded
Zappala's resignation or called for an investigation into his actions. Zappala defended his email, claiming its intention was to uphold consistent, evidence-based decision-making and to counteract unfounded allegations of racism. He accused Raiford of misrepresenting a plea offer in
296:
criticized
Zappala for blocking him from holding inquests in certain cases. Wecht accused Zappala of "impudence, arrogance, gall of an unmitigated nature, hubris and unsurpassed chutzpah that absolutely defies explanation". When Wecht was later indicted on a variety of charges, a defense attorney
392:
In the same interview on "The Big K Morning Show with Larry
Richert and Marty Griffin" on KDKA Radio, Zappala also spoke about his opponent, Matt Dugan, explaining, "They're being funded by... what's his name? Soros. contributed a couple hundred thousand dollars to this guy, Dugan, this week. I
315:
Zappala was later involved in a dispute with Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Stephen A. Bucar over whether the city police bureau should change its eyewitness identification procedures. Zappala urged the police bureau to discontinue its use of simultaneous photo arrays, in which witnesses were
276:
Upon graduation from law school, he joined the Pittsburgh law firms of Grogan, Graffam, McGinley & Lucchino and Dattilo, Barry, Fasulo & Cambest as an associate. In 1990, he became a partner at Brucker, Zappala, Schneider & Porter, another Pittsburgh law firm. In 1995, he was named
338:
In 2021, Zappala sent an email to his prosecutors directing them not to offer plea deals to black attorney Milton Raiford, who had voiced criticisms about the criminal justice system. Raiford had publicly accused Zappala's office of being "systematically racist" and making varying plea offers
339:
depending on skin color during a court hearing. In his email, sent five days later, Zappala asserted that Raiford's cases should proceed based on the information as filed, and any withdrawal of charges would require approval by the front office.
367:
On May 16, 2023, Dugan emerged victorious in the Democratic primary, 56% to 44%. Despite losing the Democratic primary, the North Hills GOP write-in campaign proved successful, and Zappala was nominated by the Republicans.
347:
denounced Zappala's email as a violation of the legal profession and the rule of law, stating that it breached ethical rules against discrimination or retaliation based on race or other protected characteristics.
312:, Zappala stated that he would not charge his mother, Elizabeth Derkosh, who lifted her son to get a better point of view. He stated he was still investigating if the zoo had been at fault.
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typically shown photos of six to eight suspects on one sheet of paper, in favor of sequential photo arrays, in which they were shown photos individually.
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On November 7, 2023, Zappala was re-elected, this time on the Republican ballot line, with 51.4 percent of the vote.
360:
Zappala won a 7th term in the 2023 district attorney election. Although he lost the Democratic primary to challenger
265:
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On October 26, 2023, during an interview on "The Big K Morning Show with Larry Richert and Marty Griffin" on
97:
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515:
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Zappala fired Conrad, who had been working in the district attorney's office as lead homicide prosecutor.
1007:"Gainey fires back at Zappala over DA's suggestion that he can sue Pittsburgh to take control of police"
993:"Gainey fires back at Zappala over DA's suggestion that he can sue Pittsburgh to take control of police"
1093:
324:
229:
301:
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405:
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In 2019, Zappala was re-elected with 59 percent of the primary vote and 57 percent in the general.
261:
175:
703:"Prosecutor's office paid ransom to regain access to its computers; international network busted"
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8:
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901:"Matt Dugan defeats incumbent DA Steve Zappala, potentially shutting down a 7th term"
538:
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979:"The Feds Are Investigating Local Police Departments Again. Here's What to Expect"
1183:
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264:, where he graduated with a degree in political science. He earned his J.D. from
920:"Matt Dugan wins 2023 Allegheny County Democratic primary for district attorney"
1168:
1158:
309:
873:"North Hills GOP committee mounts write-in campaign for Democratic DA Zappala"
374:
that type of thing. I think we're moving in that direction. I'll do it again.
1223:
887:"Several Polls Show Tight Race Allegheny County Executive District Attorney"
680:"Pittsburgh safety director volleys back in dispute with district attorney"
189:
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as ransom after his office computer network was taken hostage by the
44:
934:"Allegheny County 2023 Democratic District Attorney Primary Results"
519:
730:"Progressives Find Political Success, and Pushback, as Prosecutors"
297:
blamed Zappala for the probe, saying it was politically motivated.
1037:
655:
320:
651:"Mother avoids charges after dogs kill son at Pittsburgh Zoo"
948:"Allegheny County DA Zappala gets Republican write-in votes"
260:. After a back injury sidelined him, he transferred to the
1108:
224:
Zappala is the son of Phyllis Zappala (née Koleno) and
236:, a Pennsylvania attorney, magistrate and legislator.
625:"Wecht Goes Off On Zappala's 'Arrogance,' 'Chutzpah'"
1235:
District attorneys in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
520:"Hard Charging District Attorney Makes a Difference"
415:
277:Chairman of the Allegheny County Board of Viewers.
571:"A curt letter ends Conrad's term in DA's office"
489:"Zappala handily repels another Conrad challenge"
252:, Zappala began his undergraduate studies at the
1280:Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh) alumni
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1038:Office of the Allegheny County District Attorney
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534:"Judges elect Zappala new district attorney"
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903:. Pittsburgh Union Progress. May 17, 2023.
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408:with his wife, Mary. They have four sons.
959:
957:
701:Cassens Weiss, Debra (December 6, 2016).
597:"Zappala wins big over Conrad in DA race"
352:another case and undermining the system.
208:is an American lawyer who is the current
907:
677:
532:Karamcheti, Deepak (December 20, 1997).
333:
319:In 2016, Zappala paid nearly $ 1,400 in
308:after falling into their exhibit at the
1222:
954:
594:
568:
486:
1082:
1064:District Attorney of Allegheny County
965:"Steve Zappala joins Larry and Marty"
36:District Attorney of Allegheny County
1265:People from Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
280:In December 1997, District Attorney
1110:Allegheny County District Attorneys
13:
448:Allegheny County Police Department
379:—Stephen Zappala, October 26, 2023
14:
1291:
1031:
1009:. Post-Gazette. October 30, 2023.
995:. Post-Gazette. October 30, 2023.
487:Bucsko, Mike (November 3, 1999).
453:Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
266:Duquesne University School of Law
678:Navratil, Liz (August 1, 2014).
432:
418:
399:
355:
1275:University of Pittsburgh alumni
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999:
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569:Belser, Ann (January 6, 1998).
981:. Stateline. October 30, 2023.
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588:
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214:Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
16:Pennsylvania district attorney
1:
1270:University of Delaware alumni
889:. CBS News. October 23, 2023.
595:Bucsko, Mike (May 19, 1999).
522:, Fall 2000 News & Views.
468:
875:. Trib Live. March 28, 2023.
516:Pennsylvania Bar Association
345:Pennsylvania Bar Association
246:Central Catholic High School
239:
7:
967:. Audacy. October 26, 2023.
575:The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
411:
89:1957 (age 66–67)
10:
1296:
1240:Duquesne University alumni
922:. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
404:Zappala lives in suburban
230:Pennsylvania Supreme Court
228:, a former Justice of the
1116:
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1023:. Fox News. May 17, 2023.
682:. Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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1260:Pennsylvania Republicans
406:Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
292:In 2004, County Coroner
262:University of Pittsburgh
176:University of Pittsburgh
1245:Lawyers from Pittsburgh
602:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
494:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
1255:Pennsylvania Democrats
936:. Patch. May 17, 2023.
544:New Pittsburgh Courier
376:
254:University of Delaware
244:After graduating from
206:Stephen A. Zappala Jr.
950:. WTAE. May 23, 2023.
371:
334:Plea deal controversy
659:. November 28, 2012
631:on January 12, 2005
550:on November 2, 2012
426:Pennsylvania portal
226:Stephen Zappala Sr.
186:Duquesne University
153:Stephen Zappala Sr.
1210:(*) denotes Acting
1057:Robert E. Colville
282:Robert E. Colville
256:, where he played
232:, and grandson of
71:Robert E. Colville
1217:
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539:HighBeam Research
463:Pittsburgh Police
458:District attorney
306:African wild dogs
210:District Attorney
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1054:Preceded by
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627:. Archived from
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546:. Archived from
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440:Biography portal
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327:phishing group.
234:Frank J. Zappala
159:Frank J. Zappala
81:Personal details
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105:Other political
94:Political party
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60:January 2, 1998
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25:Stephen Zappala
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736:. May 28, 2019
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310:Pittsburgh Zoo
304:was killed by
302:Maddox Derkosh
300:In 2012, when
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1068:1998–present
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605:. p. B-4
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497:. p. B-4
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400:Personal life
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356:2023 election
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161:(grandfather)
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122:(before 2023)
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822:Post-gazette
760:Pghcitypaper
738:. Retrieved
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712:. Retrieved
706:
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684:. Retrieved
673:
661:. Retrieved
654:
645:
633:. Retrieved
629:the original
619:
607:. Retrieved
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578:. Retrieved
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552:. Retrieved
548:the original
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499:. Retrieved
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107:affiliations
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1230:1957 births
714:December 8,
708:ABA Journal
635:January 21,
294:Cyril Wecht
66:Preceded by
1224:Categories
1021:"Fox News"
609:January 3,
554:January 3,
501:January 3,
469:References
362:Matt Dugan
258:linebacker
250:Pittsburgh
120:Democratic
114:Republican
1072:Incumbent
734:Governing
686:August 1,
325:Avalanche
289:handily.
240:Education
169:Education
146:Relatives
45:Incumbent
1199:Colville
1194:Hickton*
1174:Rahauser
1141:Blakeley
1136:Goehring
1126:Haymaker
1121:Burleigh
806:Triblive
784:Triblive
580:July 26,
412:See also
155:(father)
138:Children
1204:Zappala
1154:Gardner
1146:Jackson
1131:Stewart
740:June 2,
663:May 26,
656:Reuters
321:bitcoin
98:Forward
1189:Duggan
1179:Malone
1169:Leslie
272:Career
220:Family
130:Spouse
116:(2023)
1184:Boyle
1164:Adams
1150:Rowan
861:Pabar
58:
1159:Park
850:Acba
836:Wesa
742:2021
716:2016
688:2014
665:2023
637:2006
611:2010
582:2012
556:2010
503:2010
386:KDKA
133:Mary
86:Born
248:in
212:of
1226::
956:^
909:^
842:^
828:^
812:^
790:^
766:^
750:^
732:.
705:.
653:.
599:.
573:.
542:.
536:.
518:.
491:.
477:^
268:.
216:.
190:JD
180:BA
1102:e
1095:t
1088:v
744:.
718:.
690:.
667:.
639:.
613:.
584:.
558:.
505:.
192:)
188:(
182:)
178:(
141:4
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