Retired Police Officer Sworn In For District Judge Term

Surrounded by family, friends, attorneys, and police officers, Terry Hughes took the oath of office and began his first six-year term as district judge.

Hughes, who has been serving the past few weeks as an appointed district judge after he won his election in November, was sworn in Monday afternoon by fellow District Judge Kevin Wagner.

Hughes, a Democrat, thanked his family and supporters for allowing him to take his role.

The ceremony took place at Magisterial District Court 07-1-04 on New Falls Road in Bristol Township.

The Bristol Township School District’s Drummers With Attitude, which is led by teacher Kevin Travers, performed at Hughes’ ceremony.

Hughes retired from the Bristol Township Police Department’s command staff in 2019.

Hughes’ district court covers a third of Bristol Township and all of Tullytown Borough.

The bench had been vacant after District Judge Robert Wagner resigned and retired after 33 years in office.

District judges in Pennsylvania do not have to be attorneys.

District courts are the first level of the state’s Unified Judicial System. District judges oversee preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings; summary offenses; traffic offenses; municipal code violations; landlord and tenant cases; and civil claims where damages are not more than $12,000. District courts are the most common interaction the public has with the judicial system.

Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies

---

---