A Quick Look at Richard Haaz

One of the two Democrats seeking a spot on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Richard Haaz has a long list of credentials, both judicial and civic. He has been an attorney for over 30 years and is highly rated by the Montgomery County Bar Association. He’s also worked to enforce professional standards, serving as hearing committee chairman for the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which presides over the prosecution of attorneys charged with professional misconduct. Many of the court cases he lists on his website (www.haazforjudge.com) show a long-time effort to protect senior citizens; it also mentions that he has lectured for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in areas involving nursing home abuse and trial strategy.

In his questionnaire for www.philly.com, Haaz lists this among his credentials:

the chairperson of the Montgomery County Bar Association’s Medical-Legal Committee which serves to find common areas to promote better relationships between the legal and medical cultures. The two primary objectives under my leadership of this committee are revival of the Abington Hospital Mediation Program, as well as the “doctor/lawyer in the classroom” program which pairs doctors and lawyers to address students about the medical and legal consequences of drug abuse.

Haaz has been on the board of Big Brothers / Big Sisters for over 20 years. He has served on the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth (Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 2007), having been appointed by the Montgomery County Board of Commissions in a unanimous vote, getting the support of the two Republicans and one Democrat on the Board. Politically, Haaz served as the chair of his local Democratic committee.

In his off time he enjoys going fishing with his sons; he and his wife have three grown children. He also mentions having two dogs. Haaz was raised in Abington Township and is a graduate of Abington High School and Penn State University. He went to law school in New Hampshire and then came back to Pennsylvania to practice.

On a personal note I’ve run across Mr. Haaz at selected political events over the past year. He is always friendly but in a reserved way, a judicial temperament.

Further Reading

Richard Haaz's website: http://www.haazforjudge.com Questionnaire on Philly.com: http://media.philly.com/documents/richardhaazmontco.pdf