It’s always about people, and everyone has a story.
With that in mind, District Judge Dominic Cercone has navigated a 22-year career as Bradford City Policeman and an 18-year career as a magisterial district judge with a caring heart, a helping hand and a listening ear.
As a policeman, “The last 8 or 9 years I was a juvenile officer. Officer Rich Harsen and I were lucky enough to teach the D.A.R.E. program,” he said, referring to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. “They would call when they had an incident at the school and we would go up.
“If an arrest was necessary we would make it, but that was the rarity,” Cercone said. “I would talk to different classes about my job, about police work.”
His message resonated with many students, who stayed in touch with him — and stayed with him into his judgeship.
“Some of them show up in my office in uniform,” he said. “They’ve become great successes and done great things.”
Seeing one of his former students become a responsible and productive adult is gratifying, Cercone said.
“When you have anything to do with someone becoming successful, what could be more rewarding than that? I mean when we were all young, we struggled,” the judge continued. Giving someone that extra push to get them over the hump brings its own reward. “To be part of that is pretty amazing. I’m so thankful that I had the privilege and opportunity to do that.”
In fact, the ability to listen is the most valuable skill he has, Cercone opined.
“The best thing you can give anybody is your time,” he said. “If you sit down with somebody and give them 15 or 20 minutes of your time, whether you tell them what they want to hear or not, just that you shared your thoughts with them on their problem — some people never get heard. And that’s a shame.”
Listening is a two-way street — both people benefit, he said.
“I’ve learned as much from the people who weren’t in a good position on the other side of my bench as I’ve learned from the lawyers and the victims and the witnesses,” Cercone said. “Everybody’s got a story and they’re not all fun. People have a tough go of it sometimes.”
Along the way, Cercone has faced his share of criticism, but said it goes with the job. “You’re in a position where you can’t speak out for yourself.”
He’s found with the decisions that he’s been questioned on the most, he still believes he did the right thing.
“I guess it made it easier that I didn’t backpedal. Those decisions are the ones that make you really on top of your game.”
Through the years, Cercone has had some changes of opinion, but on a more personal level — like from a policeman’s caution with a defense attorney to full-fledged friendships with the attorneys who represent clients in the county.
Looking back over his career, Cercone thanked the members of the McKean County Bar Association for their patience with him as he learned the job, as well as all the district attorneys and public defenders.
He commented on the quality of attorneys in McKean County, singling out the public defender’s office. “I don’t know where you can get better representation. I know you see on TV that people are like, ‘Oh no, the public defender.’ That’s not the case in McKean County. You get a really great representation.”
Cercone mentioned, too, his office staff, Kathy Webster and Sue Feely. “This place is only as good as the people out front. Kathy has been a good sounding board,” he said. She’s been with the court system for more than 30 years, serving under two prior district judges. “Sue has that uncanny ability to talk to people at the counter, to soothe them a bit before I can get to them.”
He’s ready to retire, Cercone said.
“I’m leaving the job because it’s time. I don’t know how many people are fortunate enough to do that. They leave because they can’t stand it, or they are mad at someone. I love this job.
“My life with these last two jobs has been like the American dream. I have to pinch myself every morning to be honest with you,” the judge said.
“I love Bradford. Maybe I didn’t have the confidence to go somewhere else, I don’t know,” he added. He has four sons, ranging from Max at 33 to David at 44 — with Sam and Jordan in there, too — and two grandchildren, ages 13 and 11.
“I’m privileged to have been involved in the whole system from nuts and bolts,” Cercone said. “For those that believed in me, I’m tickled, for those who didn’t believe me, I hope I made them believe in me to some degree along the way.
“If I complain about something, someone should haul off and kick me in the shin.”
