Clinton County, PA
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Since 1952, Clinton County has comprised the entire twenty-fifth judicial district of Pennsylvania. Prior to 1952, it shared its judicial districts with two or more other counties. In 1839, when Clinton County was formed, it was part of the fourth judicial district along with five other counties. Over the next fifteen years, a number of reorganizations of Pennsylvania judicial districts took place reflecting the changes in county lines and the creation of new counties that were taking place in the mid-nineteenth century in Pennsylvania. The following reflects the different judicial districts in which Clinton County has existed since 1839 together with other counties that were a part of that district.
From 1839 to 1842 Clinton County was part of the fourth judicial district with Centre, Clearfield, Bedford, Mifflin, and Huntingdon Counties. From 1842 to 1851 Clinton County was part of the fourth judicial district with Centre and Clearfield Counties. From 1851 to 1853 Clinton County was part of the eighth judicial district with Centre, Lycoming and Northumberland Counties. From 1853 to 1883 Clinton County was part of the twenty fifth judicial district with Centre and Clearfield Counties. From 1883 to 1952 Clinton County was part of the twenty fifth judicial district with Cameron and Elk Counties. From 1952 to present Clinton County is the twenty fifth judicial district by itself.
On December 16, 1839 the first session of court was held in Clinton County in Lock Haven at Barker's Tavern, a two story frame building at 310 East Water Street. It was presided over by Judge Thomas Burnside. At that time Judge Burnside was assisted by two associates, John Fleming and George Crawford.
In 1842, three years after court sessions had began in the area, the first official courthouse for Clinton County was built on East Church Street in Lock Haven. It was known as the Jerry Church courthouse and built on land he had donated to the city. In May of 1893 it was razed to the ground and later became the site of Robb Elementary School.
This building had soon proved to be inadequate in size, a new courthouse was erected where the Old Clinton Tavern used to stand. This building cost $102,464 to construct and is still in use today. President Judge Charles A. Mayer presided at the dedication of this new court house on February 8, 1869.
Additions were made to the Courthouse in 1936 on the South end of the building at a cost of $130,000 to add more office space and a second courtroom.
The County's first two president judges, Thomas Burnside and George W. Woodward, were later elevated to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with Judge Woodward attaining the status of Chief Justice.
As a result of these numerous judicial district reorganizations, Clinton County was to see nine different judges in the first thirty years of the County's existence; in contrast the County saw only seven judges over the next one hundred years. The longest term of the President Judge belongs to Charles A. Mayer, who served more than thirty seven years from January 1869 until his death on May 18, 1906.
The following is a chronological listing of the different judges who have served Clinton County since 1839.
|
|
Term |
|
Name |
Hometown |
|
|
1839-1841 |
|
President Judge Thomas Burnside |
Bellefonte |
|
|
1841-1851 |
|
President Judge George W. Woodward |
Wilkes-Barre |
|
|
1851-1851 |
|
President Judge James T. Hale |
Parts Unknown |
|
|
1851-1852 |
|
President Judge James Pollock |
Milton |
|
|
1852-1853 |
|
President Judge Alexander Jordan |
Milton |
|
|
1853-1856 |
|
President Judge James Burnside |
Bellefonte |
|
|
1856-1859 |
|
President Judge James Gamble |
Jersey Shore |
|
|
1859-1868 |
|
President Judge Samuel Linn |
Bellefonte |
|
|
1868-1869 |
|
President Judge Joseph Benson McEnally |
Clearfield |
|
|
1869-1906 |
|
President Judge Charles A. Mayer |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1906-1907 |
|
President Judge B. W. Green |
Emporium |
|
|
1907-1917 |
|
President Judge Harry Alvin Hall |
Ridgeway |
|
|
1917-1921 |
|
President Judge Robert McCormick |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1921-1939 |
|
President Judge E. H. Baird |
Ridgeway |
|
|
1939-1952 |
|
President Judge Henry Hipple |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1952-1974 |
|
President Judge Abraham H. Lipez |
Lieda, Russia |
|
|
1974-1994 |
|
President Judge Carson V. Brown |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1992-1994 |
|
Judge Richard N. Saxton, Jr. |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1994-2008 |
|
President Judge Richard N. Saxton, Jr. |
Lock Haven |
|
|
1994-2008 |
|
Judge J. Michael Williamson |
Lock Haven |
|
|
2008-2013 |
|
President Judge J. Michael Williamson |
Lock Haven |
|
|
2008-2013 |
|
Judge Craig P. Miller |
Renovo |
|
|
2013-Present |
|
President Judge Craig P. Miller |
Renovo |
|
|
2014-Present |
|
Judge Michael F. Salisbury |
Beech Creek/Blanchard |
Historical Notes Compiled by the Honorable Carson V. Brown
Contact
Clinton County Courts
230 East Water Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745
570-893-4016
570-893-4145 (Fax)
Hours
8:00am - 5:00pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
8:00am - 12:30pm (Wed)
For the hearing impaired, please dial 7-1-1 (PArelay.net)
Court Administration
District Court Administrator: Don Powers
Assistant District Court Administrator: Kayla Kahler
District Court Administrative Assistant: Kelsey Spangler