Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine.
(The following is an editorial submission from incumbent Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who is running for reelection against Republican challenger Pat Hanrahan on Nov. 2.)
The factors for electing your district judge are unlike all the other choices you have on Election Day. For all the other candidates, you look at their political ideologies, policy platforms, budget decisions, etc. But for district judge, you should only look at three things: qualifications, experience and fairness.
For the first factor — qualifications — I bring the highest level to our community. I am a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and have been a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association for 15 years. This is of vital importance, as the job revolves completely around knowledge of the law.
While it is true that you don’t need to be a lawyer to be a Magisterial District Judge (MDJ), the reality is the exception exists because there are areas in our state where there are no lawyers to fill the gaps. This is 2021 though, and Montgomery County is the third most populous county in the state. We have a wealth of attorneys and one of the best Bar Associations in the country.
North Penn is a community that takes pride in having the best, from schools to doctors. Lansdale Borough and Towamencin Township have been served by an attorney MDJ for over 25 years, and Hatfield Township has been the same for almost 10 years now.
In terms of experience, I bring much more than just my legal background. Over the last six years, I have presided over one of the busiest district courts in the county. Since 2018, my court has had the largest Civil and Landlord/Tenant case load in the county. I come with a background in civil procedure, torts, contracts and landlord-tenant law. I have also been in court more days than all but two judges in the county, and I have had more full days of hearings than any judge in the county.
I have also worked for several years as a clerk in the district court, so I have the managerial and administrative skills necessary for the position. This is demonstrated in my courts six years of perfect audits and being named an “Exemplary Court” by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The third factor is fairness. I have a reputation as one of the most patient, knowledgeable and fair judges in the county. I listen, I give parties time to present their cases, and I educate parties about the law. If you know an attorney, talk to them about me. If you see your local police officer, ask them how I conduct my court. One party may not be happy with my decisions, however, all parties agree they were heard and were given a fair opportunity to present their case.
When voting for Magisterial District Judge on Nov. 2, focus on the facts, evidence and the law, as I have done for six years as your incumbent judge. Protect the integrity, qualifications and professionalism of our district court.
Vote for Judge Levine on Nov. 2. For more information on Judge Levine, click here.
