Jennifer Bindernagel (Clarion County Magisterial District Judge 18-3-04, Pennsylvania, candidate 2025)
Jennifer Bindernagel (Republican Party) ran for election to Clarion County Magisterial District Judge 18-3-04 in Pennsylvania on May 20, 2025.[1]
Elections
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jennifer Bindernagel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bindernagel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Dr. Jennifer Bindernagel, and I’m running for Magisterial District Judge 18-3-04. I bring over 20 years of experience in social work, nonprofit leadership, and teaching—serving people impacted by homelessness, mental illness, trauma, addiction, and disability. I currently lead The Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong and teach at Slippery Rock University, where I mentor future human service professionals. But my most important title is Mom. I’m the proud mother of a teenage son, a committee member for Boy Scout Troop 217, and an active Zion Church of Petroleum Valley member. These roles ground me in community life and remind me daily of the values we want to pass on: fairness, responsibility, and compassion. I’ve also experienced the court system personally as a victim, and I understand how critical it is that our courts are trauma-informed and just. That perspective drives my commitment to ensuring everyone—victims, defendants, and families—is treated with dignity and accountability. I believe a judge’s work doesn’t stop at the bench. In a rural county like ours, we need court leaders who engage with the community—partnering with schools, law enforcement, and service providers to strengthen public safety and connect people with the resources they need. Justice should protect, restore, and serve. I would be honored to bring fairness, compassion, and strong leadership to this role—both inside and outside the courtroom.
- Real-World Experience that Serves the Public With over 20 years of experience in social work, nonprofit leadership, and higher education, I bring a practical, informed approach to the courtroom—focused on people, accountability, and outcomes.
- A Balanced, Trauma-Informed Approach to Justice I believe justice should be both firm and fair. As a survivor of crime and a career-long advocate, I understand the courtroom’s power to protect, restore, and hold people accountable.
- A Judge Who Engages Beyond the Bench I’m committed to serving both in the courtroom and the community, collaborating with schools, law enforcement, and local leaders to promote public safety and connect people to resources.
If elected, I hope my time on the bench helps build greater trust in the justice system—especially for those who have felt overlooked, misunderstood, or afraid to speak up. I want young people to believe that one mistake does not define their future. I want victims to feel heard and respected. And I want our community to know that justice can be both strong and kind. Ultimately, I want my legacy to reflect my values: presence, purpose, and people first. My goal has never been power—it’s always been service.
Being a Magisterial District Judge means more than sitting behind a bench. It’s about making decisions that impact people’s lives—sometimes at very difficult moments. The core responsibilities include handling preliminary hearings in criminal cases, setting bail, issuing warrants, and deciding if charges move forward. Judges also hear traffic cases, landlord-tenant disputes, small civil claims, and summary offenses. But beyond the legal responsibilities, a District Judge is often the first person someone meets in the justice system. That’s why fairness, clear communication, and respect for everyone who enters the courtroom are so important. Whether someone is a victim, a defendant, or a family member, they deserve to be treated with dignity. A good judge should uphold the law and also help build trust in the system. In a community like Clarion County, where people know one another and resources can be limited, the judge’s role is also about being accessible, consistent, and grounded in common sense. The work is about applying the law—but also understanding the people behind the cases.
Public safety Access to mental health and addiction services Housing stability Education and youth services
Yes—Magisterial District Judges do far more than most people realize. We’re often the first point of contact in the justice system, making key decisions in the early stages of a case. That includes arraignments, setting bail, and deciding if cases move forward through preliminary hearings. These choices can greatly impact public safety and fairness from the very start.
District Judges also handle civil matters like landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and traffic citations—issues that affect people’s daily lives. We also sign search and arrest warrants, and issue emergency protection orders to help keep victims safe in crisis situations.
One lesser-known but deeply important responsibility is hearing truancy cases. That gives District Judges the opportunity to work with schools and families to keep kids in classrooms and out of courtrooms—something I believe in strongly.
In a rural county like Clarion, where resources can be limited and community ties run deep, these responsibilities require more than just legal knowledge. They demand fairness, compassion, and a deep understanding of the people we serve. As Judge, I’ll bring that perspective to every decision I make.
Yes, I believe empathy is an important quality for a judge—so long as it is balanced with fairness, accountability, and respect for the law. Empathy doesn’t mean letting someone off the hook; it means taking the time to understand the full picture before making a decision that can deeply affect someone’s life.
As a social worker, I’ve spent over 20 years helping individuals and families navigate complex challenges like trauma, mental illness, addiction, and housing instability. As a victim of crime, I’ve also stood in a courtroom and felt the weight of the process from the other side. Those experiences have taught me that empathy is not a weakness—it’s a tool that, when used wisely, helps judges make informed, just, and thoughtful decisions.
In a rural community like Clarion County, where courts often see neighbors, families, and young people in crisis, we need judges who listen carefully, lead with integrity, and apply the law with consistency and understanding. Empathy helps ensure that justice is not only delivered—but delivered with dignity.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
External links
[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2025.
