He helped institute new rules for guardians to protect the elderly from fraud and abuse.
He presided over the trial of one of the Lehigh Valley's most notorious and outrageous killers.
And at the end of next month, he'll set down his gavel for good.
Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano is calling it a career.
"I have accomplished all I set out to when I took this job," said the 58-year-old from Hanover Township, Northampton County. "I've been fortunate to have 14 years of public service and I'm ready to move on and start a new career."
The judge's last day on the job will be April 30. He's joining a law firm in the Lehigh Valley and will focus on arbitrations and mediations around the state. He'll also practice in personal injury, wills, estate and trust cases. He declined to name the law firm until he's officially retired.
What he'll miss most about his days on the bench are the people who supported him.
"We have wonderful county employees who work very, very hard," the judge said.
When he started in 2004, he became the first judge assigned to oversee Orphans Court. In this capacity he instituted a new system where guardians over the elderly needed to be certified. The certification process weeds out individuals with criminal backgrounds or a history of bad credit who were looking to prey on vulnerable residents.
The standards he set in Northampton County are now getting traction across the state of Pennsylvania.
Giordano presided over the capital murder trial of Jeffrey Knoble, who was convicted of killing Andrew "Beep" White in Easton. Knoble brokered a deal after his conviction to forgo appeals so that prosecutors wouldn't purse the death penalty against him.
Knoble at times used foul language in court, complained about his lawyers and taunted White's family by sticking his tongue out at them.
"That had to be the worst case I ever handled," the judge said. He refused to allow Knoble to wrankle him and maintained decorum the best he could.
"It was hard to hold back but I had to be the professional. I had to be the judge," Giordano said.
Candidates can apply to run for Giordano's vacant seat in the next municipal election, according to Giordano. That election is coming in 2019.
State Senator Lisa Boscola can suggest a candidate to Gov. Tom Wolf. That nominee must be confirmed by the state Senate. If a candidate is confirmed, that judge will have to run in 2019 to keep the seat.
When he's not on the bench, Giordano plays guitar in a rock band that sometimes performs at charity fund raisers. The band has a new signer and has opened its repertoire beyond classic rock to include some contemporary tunes, soul and disco, including the song "Freak Out."
"I've been working on that one for a month," he admits.
Giordano unsuccessfully sought a seat twice to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. There's another job he'd love to have, but that one eluded him too: manager of his beloved New York Yankees.
"They went with Aaron Boone instead of me," Giordano joked.