Judge and Author of The Hard Coal Docket
John P. Lavelle’s mother Sarah Ann McBride came from Creeslough before emigrating to Philadelphia, USA. Where she married John Lavelle from Co. Mayo they had two children John and Joseph.
John P. Lavelle became “The Honourable John P. Lavelle President Judge of Carbon County” when he was sworn in on 3/1/ 1978
A 1953 graduate of Villanova University with an AB degree in Philosophy and Literature, he received his Jurist Doctor (JD) degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1958.
USA Army
As a member of the U.S. A. Army Signal Corps he carried out military assignments in Italy and Austria in 1954 and 1955.
Judge
For eighteen years Judge Lavelle had a distinguished career as an active municipal and trial lawyer. He served as Carbon County Solicitor from 1971 to 1978. His extensive involvement in numerous community and charitable causes demonstrated his high energy and commitment to public service.
During his twenty-two years on the bench, he has been dedicated to improving the Court system with computer technology and innovative case management techniques.
Judge Lavelle and his Wife Marianne live in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, USA. and have four children, Marianne, John, Jacqueline and James.
Author
In 1996 Judge Lavelle wrote and published “The Hard Coal Docket ” which is a history of Carbon County as seen through the prism of the legal system. The book features his due process analysis of the famous “Mollie Maguire” Trials in Carbon County in the late 1870’s.
The six Irish men of Mollie Maguire’s (AOH) were convicted of murder. Five were hanged: Doyle, Kelly, Campbell, Donahue and Fisher, Mc Kenna got nine years in jail.
When the film of the Mollie Maguire Trial was being made, Bill McClafferty from Creeslough worked as an extra on the film.
The Carbon County seat has changed it’s name to Jim Thorpe. It is in eastern Pennsylvania about 80 miles North of Philadelphia and 100 miles west of New York City. This town is also historically known as the burial site for the body of Native American sports legend Jim Thorpe.