Lippincott drops bid for re-election as district judge

Nicholas Lippincott, the longtime Republican Magisterial District Judge sitting in the 32-2-46 District covering Upper Providence and Rose Valley, has announced that he will not seek re-election in the November general election.

“It has been a true honor to serve on the bench for three terms, endeavoring to uphold the law while resolving issues that people face with fairness and compassion,” said Lippincott in a prepared statement. “I look back at my time on the bench with gratitude to my staff, my colleagues on the bench, members of law enforcement and fellow

Lippincott and the Democratic challenger, Media attorney Andrew Goldberg, both cross-filed for the primary election held May 16. Lippincott received 853 Republican votes and 334 Democratic votes, while Goldberg received 750 Democratic votes and 148 Republican votes, according to totals provided by the county.

“It’s been a great job, I’ve had great support from the community, in the primary I got the majority of the votes cast,” said Lippincott Thursday. “But in reflecting after the primary, I just sat back and (thought), ‘I’m going to be 69 years old, I’ve been there 18 years … and attorneys.” Nicholas Lippincott

there’s some things I put off doing, and if I don’t do them now, when am I going to do them?’”

Lippincott, who will retire from the bench effective Jan. 1, 2018, said he hoped to have more time to travel and get to a farm he owns upstate more often. He said he does not plan on leaving the area, however.

“Upper Providence is a great place to live and the people are really great people around here,” he said. “(Being a judge) has been a wonderful experience and I’m very grateful to everyone who’s supported me over the years.”

Lippincott has been practicing law for more than 35 years and said he would remain active in private practice after leaving the bench. He is currently at the firm Mallon and Blatcher Law.

Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Andy Reilly said four well-qualified candidates have expressed an interest in taking Lippincott’s place on the ballot. A dozen committee members in Rose Valley and Upper Providence will be interviewing potential candidates and making recommendations to the party’s vacancy board at an Aug. 2 meeting, he said. Reilly indicated he would not be part of that process.

“Generally, we have a practice of having the local committee people meeting and doing interviews, checking credentials and then making a recommendation to the county vacancy board,” said Reilly. “We have some excellent candidates who have expressed interest.”

Lippincott dubbed the replacement process “a political matter” and said he is not involved with it or party politics in general.

“As a judge, you can’t be involved in politics and I never have taken any money from anybody,” he said. “I’ve paid for the costs of the campaigns over the years out of my own pocket.”

Lippincott said in the statement that there are still many challenges facing the county, such as an opioid epidemic, and he hopes to continue to be of use as a senior judge following retirement.

“I humbly and sincerely thank everyone who I have met in my capacity as a district judge, and as a candidate on your doorstep,” he said. “You have all enriched my life in countless ways.”