Local Judiciary

Under the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution, a system of elected local judicial officers, called Magisterial District Judges and then District Justices, was established, each elected for a six-year term in an area designated by Order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. in 1969 the position of justice of the peace was abolished and the position was thereafter titled magisterial district judge or justice (and those taking office were-and now-required to be an attorney or secure legal training before assuming position).

Since that system was created Ambler and Upper Dublin have been designated as a single judicial district and together the residents elected a magisterial district judge.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE (Upper Dublin, now elected to six-year terms)

Charles C. Hahl (1923 -1929)

Squire Crane (aka Leon C. Crane)- 1929-1935

Robert A. Kepler (1935-1959)

Louis Patton. Hamilton (1945-1963)

Walter Ridley (1958-1970)

As noted elsewhere, the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution changed the title (and qualifications) from Justice of the Peace to Magisterial District Judge. the courts are now referred to as Magisterial District Courts, while the elected holders of the office are referred to as District Justices.

Albert (A.T.) Maynard (1963-1987)

Patricia Zaffarano (1988-2021)

Douglas Lavenberg (2022- )

In October 1963, Upper Dublin established a Traffic Court. UD Ord 273. Justices of the Peace also served as the Traffic Court Judges. UD Res. 0947, 01/08/68, and UD Res. 0959, 01/14/69.

Per these resolutions, Maynard and Ridley were designated as Traffic Court Justices for alternating months in 1968 and then again in 1969. With the passage of a statewide referendum and enabling statutes following the 1968 recommendations of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, that court was abolished, and its jurisdiction was transferred to a Magisterial District Justice (now known as District Justice).

Robert Lohoefer, constable (2004-2020?)

Todd Long, constable (before 2004-2010)

Steve Crowder (2010- )

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE/MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUSTICES

Charles C. Hahl---, xxxx- 1929 (former president of Upper Dublin Board of Supervisors)

Leon C. Crane, 1929-1935

Two Justices Named by Governor Fisher, Evening News, May 2, 1929, p. 27

Justices Lashed in Cost Remission Argument, Crane, Nase’s Offices Criticized, The Reporter, Feb. 25, 1935, editorial

Charge Magistrate With Embezzlement: Warrant Out for Leon Crane, Oreland, May be Declared Fugitive, The Reporter, Sept. 27, 1935, p.1 (proceeds of $32,675 insurance policy at issue)

Crane on Probation; Admits Fund Theft, The Reporter, Jan. 10, 1936, p.1 (his conduct was denounced by Supervising Judge Knight)

Former Magistrate Escapes Jail Sentence, The Mercury, Jan. 11, 1936, p. 3

Magistrate District Justices (now simply District Justices), a transformation of the Office of District Justice pursuant to Pennsylvania’s 1968 Constitution, are elected at municipal elections and serve six-year terms, with mandatory retirement now fixed at age 75, previously age 70.

Magistrate District Justice Patricia Zaffarano of Upper Dublin, 1987-2023

Zaffarano, a Republican, had served as a Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney prior to her election. In the 1987 election she defeated two challengers, Upper Dublin residents Conrad Joe Gordon and Daniel Rothman.

In 2011, Judge Zaffarano defeated Upper Dublin resident Michael Paston by 18 votes.

In 2023, Douglas Lavenberg of Upper Dublin, a Democrat, who had been serving as a Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney, was elected without opposition to replace Zaffarano who was not seeking reelection.