Former Blair DA returns to office
Gorman back as Blair assistant DA after 20-year stint in state AG Office
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Former Blair County District Attorney David Gorman returned to the DA's Office Monday as an assistant district attorney following a 20-year career at the Attorney General's Office.
Gorman's employment was approved Thursday by commissioners Amy Webster and Laura Burke.
"I've always had an affinity for the District Attorney's Office," Gorman said. "I enjoyed my time here and enjoyed trying cases."
Gorman was an attorney with the DA's office from 1987 until 2006 and served as the county's district attorney after being elected to the position in 1997. He then joined the Attorney General's Office in 2006 after deciding against running for another term as district attorney.
Gorman said a lot of his work with the AG's Office took him away from Blair County, which he's "always had a soft spot for."
"This is something I've always wanted to come back to," Gorman said.
Gorman was succeeded as DA by Richard Consiglio, who held the office until his retirement in 2019. Weeks, then the first assistant district attorney, took over as district attorney until 2021, when he officially ran and was elected to the position.
As a deputy attorney general, Gorman worked in the office's criminal law division and as a part of the drug strike force section.
"I understood DA (Pete) Weeks needed help because he was down many attorneys," Gorman said. "I felt like I could contribute."
Gorman said he didn't go back to the DA's office for the money or as something to do to keep busy in retirement, but to continue helping victims and witnesses navigate the criminal justice system.
"Victims sometimes get caught up in situations that they never anticipated," Gorman said. He gave the example of the parents of Shari Jackson, who was brutally killed in 2001 by Kristin Edmundson and Marie Seilhammer.
"We went through the whole trial and I remember at the end, Mrs. Jackson told Seilhammer 'I forgive you for what you did,'" Gorman said. "Those are the kind of moments that really stand out."
People like the Jacksons had never been involved in the justice system, Gorman said, and helping "make it a little less victimizing for them" brings him satisfaction.
"Maybe by me doing what I can do, maybe I can make it better for them," Gorman said.
He is also open to helping the younger assistant district attorneys, saying "if I can be a benefit to them based on my experience, they can pick my brain apart."
The help won't be completely one-sided, however.
"Obviously, I have to get used to computers," Gorman said with a laugh. "There are no more paper files. They'll be teaching an old dog new tricks."
At the end of the day, Gorman is looking to continue making sure victims and witnesses are heard.
"We serve the public, it's important to remember that," Gorman said. "I really enjoy this work, I really enjoy being in the DA's Office and if I can help, I will."
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.