By Amanda O'Rourke
LEWISBURG — After taking the oath of office this morning, newly seated Union-Snyder Judge Michael H. Sholley said the biggest adjustment during his transition from district attorney to judge has been the apparent loss of his first name.
“One of the unique experiences that I didn’t anticipate as I was seeking the position, shortly after the November election a lot of friends and family started using that title,” Sholley said. “I had the recognition that my first name was probably changing in many circles and that was an usual adjustment.”
Sholley took the oath Monday morning from Union-Snyder President Judge Harold F. Woelfel Jr. Sholley’s first act of office was to administer oaths to Union County’s newly elected row officers.
Among his goals as judge, Sholley said, is to become involved in Snyder County’s drug court. In its fledgling year in 2009, Woelfel has presided over all cases brought before the drug court. Sholley said Monday he hopes to become similarly involved.
“I firmly believe that is the future of our system,” Sholley said. “I have seen the results of the treatment court in Snyder and Union counties and I think it is one of the best things that has happened to this district in a long time.”
Sholley was unopposed for the judge position going into the November election.
Until his full-time replacement can be found, Snyder County Assistant District Attorney Michael T. Hudock will take over as the acting district attorney in Snyder County.
According to Sholley, letters of interest will be solicited for the position, with interviews, which will conducted by Sholley and Woelfel, planned for later this month.
The appointment would be made through the end of 2010, when a November election would be held to determine who would complete the term through 2012.
Upon assuming his new duties in Snyder and Union counties, Sholley said he will be unable to preside over cases in which he had any involvement as district attorney. He said he anticipates that it will take approximately one year to clear all of the Snyder County criminal cases in which he was involved.
Until then, Sholley will be free to hear most cases in Union County and most family and civil cases in Snyder County, he said.
His chambers will be located in Middleburg, he said, with Woelfel’s chambers moving to Lewisburg.
Also sworn in this morning were District Judge Leo Armbruster, Union County Sheriff Ernest Ritter, jury commissioner Gayle Pletcher, prothonotary and clerk of courts Linda Richards and coroner Wanda Walters.
