COUDERSPORT — Magisterial District Judge Annette Easton has announced her candidacy for re-election, subject to the May 16 municipal primary election.
Easton’s name will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in Coudersport and Austin boroughs and the townships of Sweden, Eulalia, Homer,Summit Keating, Portage, Wharton and Sylvania.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the Coudersport Magisterial District for the past 17-plus years,” said Easton.
“The laws of our Commonwealth have grown more complex over the years and it’s extremely important for a district judge to have a thorough knowledge of both the law and the court system to assure equal justice. Those are not just words,” Easton added. “Through the highly professional continuing legal education provided by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and the hands-on experience as a district judge, I am fully qualified to continue serving.”
The Easton name has been affiliated with the local office for more than 40 years. Annette’s father, the late Edward L. Easton, was elected to what was then the “justice of the peace” position in 1964. He was consistently recognized for his dedicated service and commitment to fairness and due process.
All the while, his daughter Annette Easton learned from her father and, in 1999, committed herself to continuing those traditions and attended Wilson College in Chambersburg to receive the required certification to take office without delay on the first Monday of 2000. She was subsequently re-elected in 2005 and 2011.
Some voters may not grasp the complexities of the magisterial district judge position, particularly as it pertains to criminal justice.
“At the district judge level, an individual accused of any law violation — from a traffic citation to a serious crime — has the constitutional protection of being assumed innocent unless proven guilty,” said Easton. “My father used to refer to the office as ‘The People’s Court,’ meaning that it protects the citizens by assuring that their rights are protected, and holding the law enforcement community to the highest standard of fairness and due process. For many folks the district court is the only contact the citizens have with the unified judicial system. I have done my best to continue my service in that same tradition as my father.”
But criminal justice is just one aspect of the district court. The Coudersport District Court handles criminal, traffic, non-traffic and civil cases. Beginning in 2000, Easton presided over 2,000 criminal cases, 20,000 traffic cases, 3,500 non-traffic cases (such as harassment, disorderly conduct, game and fish law cases and truancy). She has also presided over 1,000 civil complaints and landlord/tenant disputes and performed hundreds of weddings.
“Many of these cases are similar, but no two of them are the same” Easton said. “It is only through actual experience in the court and the annual week-long continuing legal education regimen that a district judge can provide the quality of service that residents of the district expect and deserve.”
Easton shares on-call duty with the Galeton and Shinglehouse district judges. They each average 121 days per year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on night duty. District judges hold preliminary arraignments, set bail, issue search warrants and emergency protection from abuse orders.
Easton is a member of the Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and Special Court Judge Association of Pennsylvania.
She is a lifelong resident of Potter County. She is the daughter of the late Edward L. Easton and Caroline Easton. She is the proud mother of her son, Scott A. Easton, who holds a teaching position at Coudersport Junior-Senior High School.
