Bucks County Has New President Judge

Provided by the County of Bucks:

During a mid-day meeting, the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas selected the Hon. Jeffrey L. Finley to a five-year term as president judge. Judge Finley will take over for the Hon. Susan D. Scott, who served the County of Bucks in that capacity since 2008.

President Judge Finley has been a member of the Court of Common Pleas since 2005, specializing in criminal and administrative proceedings, as well as juvenile court cases. He is a graduate of Central Bucks East High School, Temple University and Loyola School of Law. He worked in the Bucks County District Attorney’s office from 1981-85, and he was a partner at Doylestown law firm Eastburn & Gray during his 20-year tenure there (1985-2005).

The new president judge will supervise the upcoming transition from the current Courthouse to the new Justice Center in Doylestown Borough. “It’s going to be an interesting and exciting time,” President Judge Finley stated. “I expect it will be, at times, crazy. Susan (Judge Scott) and Bob (Judge Robert J. Mellon) have done so much work to get this in place. I want it to be as smooth as possible, and as quick as possible, with as little interruption as possible. I know the judges are excited.”

President Judge Finley plans to focus on efficiencies, both in Doylestown and in the county’s district courts. “Our court system is probably the leanest in the state, and there have been so many changes in the rules,” he added.

In addition his wife, Kathy, who is also a lawyer, President Judge Finley has two grown children.