A fixture in Philadelphia’s legal community since 1982.
With four years as an Assistant District Attorney, 17 years in private practice, and over 20 years as a judge, his impact can be seen through cases he litigated, court rulings from the bench, and organizations he founded, with an eye towards creating positive change.
The Road to the Bench
1995
Djerassi appointed to handle the appeal of death row inmate Jesse Bond.
During investigation, Djerassi discovered that Bond had suffered brain damage resulting from an assault suffered as a child. Although Djerassi was unable to reverse in the Court of Common Pleas at PCRA, the evidence he discovered was used by federal defenders when they successfully argued in federal trial court, and then affirmed by the Third Circuit to discharge Bond’s death row conviction in 2008.
1997
Djerassi appointed to handle the appeal of death row inmate William Gribble.
The sentence was overturned in 2001 when Djerassi argued that Gribble had not been properly advised of his right to have a jury hear his penalty phase sentencing.
2004–2005
While serving in the FJD’s Family Court Division, Djerassi implemented a protocol that resulted in the rescue of 24 runaway foster children.
Increasing attention and emphasis on the importance of the court’s involvement in finding runaways.
2007
Commonwealth v. White: Judge Djerassi imposed a sentence in a case involving a man who was found guilty of cruelty to animals for running an illegal dog fighting ring at his home in Philadelphia.
The case involved 12 pit bulls that Djerassi ordered White to forfeit to the PSPCA, in addition to time in jail. The case garnered attention for the extreme depravity displayed towards the animals, who were found inside White’s home injured and bloody. Djerassi said at sentencing that White “has committed a pretty grave offense. It was systemic and barbaric.”
2011
Commonwealth v. Carrasquillo: Judge Djerassi heard the case of Jose Carrasquillo, who admitted to the brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl and the attempted assault of a 16-year-old girl.
The case garnered national attention after a crowd in the town where the victims lived cornered Carrasquillo, beat, and held him until police arrived after his photo was released naming him as a “person of interest.” After Carrasquillo pleaded guilty, he changed his mind during sentencing in front of Judge Djerassi. He announced that he was withdrawing his guilty plea and made claims that he was innocent, stating that he was “the Antichrist” and had “a revelation.” Djerassi denied the request and sentenced Carrasquillo to 35-70 years in prison, stating that Carrasquillo was not acting in good faith and “the mere declaration of innocence after a guilty plea does not constitute an immediate withdrawal.” His decision was affirmed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
2013
Judge Djerassi co-founded Philadelphia’s Prisoner Reentry Network, one of the nation’s first web-based directories for courts and their parolees.
At the time of its founding, the website served as a one-stop-shop for former inmates and their families to find assistance in reacclimating to daily life, logging everything from mental health resources and insurance information, to how to get proper identification. The website is now known as the Philadelphia Network of Care for Prisoner Reentry.
2015
Pledger v. Janssen: Judge Djerassi oversaw the bellwether first trial of roughly 1,250 Risperdal mass-tort cases in the city's courts.
The month-long jury trial centered around plaintiff Austin Pledger, who was prescribed Risperdal off-label when he was eight years old to treat behavioral symptoms related to autism. He developed pre-puberty gynecomastia – unwanted breast growth – as a result of taking the drug. Pledger proved that Janssen knew about the increased risk of gynecomastia, but had failed to include that information in its warnings. The jury awarded Pledger $2.5 million in damages.
2015–PRESENT
Judge Djerassi is the senior judge currently serving on The Commerce Court Program of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
The Commerce Court is a three-judge trial court whose jurisdiction involves all Philadelphia commercial disputes over $50,000. The cases in front of the Commerce Court are wide-ranging and include trials, injunctions, and disputes in real estate, negligence, contracts, and property law. Judges on the Commerce Court handle 300 cases a year from beginning to end.
2016
In conjunction with the Philadelphia Adult Probation Department (APPD), Judge Djerassi launched a pilot program called PREATS.
Born out of The West Philadelphia SMART Room, where the majority of the guilty pleas and probation reviews are decided, the Prisoner Reentry Enhanced Accountability Testing System (PREATS) monitors the attendance of probationers and parolees in real time when sentenced to drug treatment programs. PREATS was used by probation officers assigned to the FJD’s Forensic Intensity Recovery program (FIR) and is the precursor for what is now The Accountability Project.
2021
Judge Djerassi founded The Accountability Project, a 501c(3) organization dedicated to reducing recidivism by lowering drop-out rates among persons judges assign to attend drug addiction, education, and job training programs.
The Accountability Project uses a special QR code system to monitor attendance in real time.
Paid for by Ramy Djerassi