Judge races shape up for general election

A new judge in Lehigh County was sworn in Sept. 6, while one in Northampton County has announced her retirement.

Anna-Kristie Morffi Marks, 39, who won both parties’ nominations for the 10-year term in the primaries, was nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf and confirmed by the state Senate.

Marks, wife of Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks, fills the seat vacated by Carol K. McGinley, who retired last year but who serves as a senior judge.

A senior judge is a retired judge who serves part-time on an as-needed basis.

In Northampton County, the county’s first female judge, F.P. Kimberly McFadden, has announced that she will retire on Nov. 30 after having served for 31 years.

This means that instead of one vacancy on the court, there will be two, so for November’s election, each party has nominated a candidate to fill one of the vacancies.

The other will likely be filled by District Attorney John Morganelli, who won both parties’ primaries and whose name will appear on both parties’ ballots. The top two vote-getters will be seated to begin their 10-year terms at the start of the new year.

The Republicans have nominated attorney Victor Scomillio, 47, of Palmer Township, while the Democrats have nominated Assistant District Attorney Abraham Kassis, 52, of Bethlehem Township.

The top vote-getter among the three will fill the seat vacated last year by Emil Giordano, while the second highest winning candidate will fill McFadden’s seat.

A judge on the Court of Common Pleas earns about $183,000 a year.