Magisterial District Judge 05-02-25
Magisterial district judges (also referred to as MDJs or Magistrates) do not have to be lawyers but are required to pass a qualifying exam. Handle civil cases up to $12,000; responsible whether serious criminal cases go the Court of Common Pleas; handle preliminary arraignments and hearings; minor criminal offenses, land lord/tenant disputes, traffic citations and non-traffic ordinance violations. Responsible for setting and accepting bail, except in murder or voluntary manslaughter cases.Term: 6 years Salary: $109,973
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Michele Santicola
(Dem, Rep)
What are your top three priorities for this office, and how would you address them?
What successful strategies have you used to build consensus in the past and how would you apply them in this office, especially when there are differing opinions or priorities?
Occupation
Magisterial District Judge, Attorney
Qualifications for office
I have been an attorney for 30 years. I was a Deputy Attorney General for 10 years. I then entered private practice where I primarily focused on criminal defense. I was a Hearing Examiner for the Liquor Control Board. For the past 5+ years, I have been a Magisterial District Judge. I am the only candidate who has been a prosecutor, defense attorney and a Judge. I have experience in trials, appeals and grand jury cases. I have experience on all sides.
Education
Duquesne University, BA, cum laude; Dickinson School of Law, JD
Facebook
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Instagram / TikTok
Santicola for Judge
My top three priorities are:
1. Ensuring that every person who appears before me is treated fairly. As I have as an attorney and a Magisterial District Judge, I have treated every litigant and attorney fairly and equally, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation or economic status.
2. Ensuring that everyone who appears before me is heard and respected. Too often, people leave court frustrated because they don't feel like they have been respected. Whether it's their time -- because of repeated continuances or the opportunity to tell their side of the story. I promise to make sure this doesn't happen.
3. Ensuring that every person is treated with compassion. No one wants to be in court. We must be kind and understanding.
As an attorney, I spent years negotiating pleas, sentences, settlements, contracts and other various issues. I learned early on that the best outcome is one that both sides come to and agree upon. And the best way to make that happen is to employ the strategies I outlined above -- treat everyone involved fairly; give them a chance to be heard; respect everyone; show compassion. As a member of a 5 member Board of Supervisors, consensus building was a big part of my job. As a Magisterial District Judge, I employ these same tactics in hopes of coming to the best outcome for everyone.
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