Leslie A. Dutchcot
Leslie A. Dutchcot was a judge for the Centre County Magisterial District in Pennsylvania. She presided over District Court 49-2-01, which covers the towns of College, Ferguson, Halfmoon and Patton. She was elected to this position in 2007, effective in January of 2008.[1] Dutchcot retired from the court in November 2015.[2]
Biography
Dutchcot received an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and her J.D. from Duquesne University, School of Law in 2000. Dutchcot worked as a law clerk for the firm of Goodrich & Goodrich, P.C. during law school. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2000. She then became a law clerk for Judge Ronald E. Vican as well as an assistant district attorney in Monroe County. She worked as a prosecutor and arbitrator prior to her election to the Magisterial District in 2007. In addition to her judicial post, she was of counsel at the law firm of Goodall & Yurchak, P.C.[1]
Dutchot has also taught criminal law at the Justice and Safety Institute's Deputy Sheriff Academy.[1][3]
Awards and associations
- 2011 Excellence Award, Patton Township Business Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Centre County Bar Association
- Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania
- Board of Directors, State College Meals on Wheels[3]
2013 election
Dutchcot ran for election to the Centre County Magisterial District.
Primary: She received 84.4 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary on May 21, 2013, defeating Ronald L. Quinn, Jr. She cross-filed as a Republican and also won that primary.
General: She won without opposition in the general election on November 5, 2013.
Noteworthy cases
Judge Dutchcot was initially assigned to the Jerry Sandusky case, (Commonwealth v. Gerald Sandusky), relating to the Pennsylvania State University scandal. Judge Dutchcot set Sandusky's bail at $100,000, unsecured. The case was transfered on November 16, 2011, to Westmoreland County and Judge Robert Scott at the request of Centre County Court of Common Pleas. Shortly before the transfer of the case, it was revealed that Judge Dutchcot was a volunteer for Second Mile, the charity started by Jerry Sandusky, and at issue in the Penn State case.[4]
See also
External links
- Leslie Dutchcot's campaign website
- Associated Press "Judge in child abuse scandal donated to charity, and volunteered there," November 14, 2011
- ABC News "Judge Who Set No Bail for Penn State Sex Abuse Suspect Volunteered for Him," November 14, 2011
- UK Daily Mail, "Revealed: Judge who freed Penn State Sandusky worked for his children's charity," November 15, 2011
- The Patriot-News "District judge in Jerry Sandusky case volunteered with his charity, but experts say that's OK," November 15, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Leslie Dutchcot's campaign website: About
- ↑ StateCollege.com, "Retired Judge Brown Endorses Bish for District Judge," May 15, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Information submitted to Judgepedia via email on 3/14/2013
- ↑ New York Daily News, "New judge assigned to Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse case after Leslie Dutchot's ties to Second Mile surface," November 16, 2011
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
