District Judge Daniel Baranoski To Take On Lower Southampton Caseload

District Judge Daniel Baranoski’s court in Penndel will pick up criminal and civil matters from Lower Southampton next year after that town’s district court seat was eliminated Friday.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order late Friday afternoon to approve a request from Bucks County President Judge Jeffrey Finley to close the district courts in Lower Southampton and Perkasie. The change will take effect on January 1, 2018.  

The order states that all matters that previously would have been handled by the court in Lower Southampton will come before Baranoski, whose court already handles Hulmeville, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Middletown, including I-95. In Perkasie, that court’s cases will be split between district courts in New Britain and Quakertown.

While the Lower Southampton court seat has been vacant after former District Judge John Waltman was charged by federal authorities in December, the cases were being handled by a senior judge who filled the seat on a per diem basis.

Several candidates were campaigning to win the Lower Southampton seat. The candidates will remain on the ballot but votes cast will not be counted due to the courts closure.

“Although I was not in favor of this redistricting plan submitted to the Supreme Court, we all have to accept their decision.  And while I feel bad for the candidates who have been working hard in their campaigns, I look forward to the opportunity to share my established history of integrity and professionalism in providing fair and impartial judicial service with the residents of Lower Southampton along with the other municipalities already within my magisterial district,” Baranoski told LevittownNow.com Friday evening.

The county cited a reduction in caseload as a reason to shutter the two courts. In addition, the state would likely reduce the number of district courts in Bucks County based on the 2020 census results, Bucks County Court Administrator Stephen Heckman told The Reporter.