Racial Equity Working Group of the Fifth Judicial District, Member
Cities and Counties for Fine and Fee Justice, Allegheny County Cohort, Member
Re-Imagine School Safety Task Force of the Pittsburgh Public School District, Member
One Hood Media, Board Member
Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania, Member
Liaison to the Allegheny County Bar Association, Criminal Litigation Section
Rules Committee
Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
Criminal Litigation Section, Member
Ad Hoc Committee to Examine Police Use of Force and Court Rules for Bail, Probation and Incarceration, Administration of Justice Committee (Co-Chair)
American Bar Association, Member
Criminal Justice Section, Member, Pretrial Justice Committee
The most critical components to transforming American criminal legal systems are transforming the courts and reimagining judging. Zealously confronting prejudice and bias; devising sensible solutions that minimize harm; and recognizing lived experience as a key factor in judicial selection. These are key elements of this process.
About Mik
Highly distinguished magisterial district judge with a proven next generation vision for equitable justice whose accomplishments include:
Effectively eliminating reliance on cash bail and following the directive of Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to grant pre-trial release to criminal defendants who do not pose a serious risk to public safety;
Reducing the eviction rate by nearly 40% and piloting an innovative landlord-tenant mediation approach that has become a county-wide program with three staff;
Developing a model Fine and Fee Justice Workshop as an innovative alternative to issuing summary warrants for nonpayment of court debt;
Catalyzed a county-wide criminal justice reform movement, disrupted, and set off a chain of events that permanently altered the local political landscape by defeating a 24-year incumbent;
Multidisciplinary attorney with a focus on innocence defense and civil rights litigation, and accomplishments that include setting statewide precedents in support of marriage equality (background and decision) and free speech (background and HLR Commentary on decision);
Background in community organizing and government that includes canvassing over 10,000 low-moderate income households in major cities through the U.S., and organizing a successful campaign to save West Penn Hospital as Policy Director for State Senator Jim Ferlo;
Proud Graduate of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earned a B.A. from the prestigious Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a major in American Studies and a minor in Economics, and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with a Certificate in International and Comparative Law;
Devoted husband to a first generation immigrant from Milan, Italy (Dr. Paola Corti, PhD) and loving father to two public school students.
Born in Bloomfield, raised in East Liberty, resides in Highland Park; childhood survivor of domestic violence, growing up with an incarcerated parent, and the War on Drugs.
