Newest district judges sworn in
NORRISTOWN » After spending more than 20 years as a prosecutor and defense lawyer, Maureen C. Coggins of Upper Hanover has fulfilled another dream to become a district court judge.
Coggins took the oath of office, administered by Montgomery County President Judge Thomas M. DelRicci, during a ceremony at the county courthouse on Wednesday.
“It’s been a very long, long road to get here but I never gave up. I always wanted to serve as a judge. If you want something bad enough, you don’t give up. You just keep trying,” Coggins said as she addressed a crowd of about 200 people who packed the county’s ceremonial courtroom.
Coggins, who was elected to the post in November and will replace Catherine Hummel-
Fried, thanked her parents, her husband and her three sons, her friends and supporters. She gave a special shout-out to attendee Michael D. Marino, a former district attorney and county commissioner, “who gave me my first shot starting in the law” when he hired her as a county prosecutor in 1993.
Coggins’ husband, defense lawyer Timothy W. Woodward Sr., who she called “my rock,” and her three sons, Timmy Jr., Atticus and Lincoln, held the Bible as she took her oath and assisted her with the robing process. Coggins’ parents also attended the event.
“My parents, from the minute I was born, taught me about honesty, about respect and about love for this country and that’s certainly what I intend to bring to the bench. I will treat every person with dignity, I will treat every case with honesty and I will always follow the Constitution,” Coggins promised.
Coggins’ court covers the areas of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill boroughs as well
as Marlborough, Upper Hanover, Salford and Upper Salford townships.
District court judges preside over preliminary hearings and arraignments for criminal cases and also handle landlord and tenant disputes and summary offenses.
Coggins, a 1992 graduate of Widener University School of Law, previously worked in both the criminal and civil court arenas.
Coggins began her career in 1993 with the county district attorney’s office where she was chief of the major
crimes unit and prosecuted murder and other felony cases. She was promoted to chief of the special prosecutions unit in 1999 and remained there through 2001.
Coggins also worked as a sole practitioner, representing clients in state and federal courts. From 2001 to 2002, Coggins was an associate with Black & Gerngross, where she litigated cases in Philadelphia, New Jersey and municipal courts.
In 2004, Coggins was appointed as chief public defender in Lehigh County, and remained in the post until 2006, where she was responsible for training, hiring and leading an office of 18 lawyers.
During her career, Coggins also has served as a mental health advocate, representing Montgomery County at mental health hearings at Norristown State Hospital, and as a county deputy solicitor.
Three other newlyelected district court judges also took oaths of office on Wednesday.
“Each of you has been called upon to bear the responsibility of delivering justice and delivering justice is no easy task,” DelRicci addressed the new judges, urging them to have a firm resolve “to do the right thing, every day and at all times, even when it’s difficult.”
Richard H. Welsh told the crowd he was “very honored” to take the oath to serve as district judge in a district that includes Royersford, Limerick Township and a part of Upper Providence Township.
Welsh, originally from Philadelphia, is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. Welsh later obtained his law degree from Dickinson School of Law and went on to serve as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia under Lynne Abraham. In 2000, Welsh joined the law firm Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin in Blue Bell, practicing real estate and municipal law. He then worked for the law offices of Robert A . Stutman in Fort Washington and left in 2009 to open Barrister’s Bagel Company in Royersford.
Welsh will be filling the seat left vacant by retiring District Judge Walter F. Gadzicki.
“The ability to serve the community as a prosecutor and now as a judge just brings so much pride to me and hopefully to my family. I promise to do my very best to serve the community,” Welsh addressed the crowd.
Suzan Leonard was sworn-in as the district court judge to serve the areas of Lower Gwynedd, Upper Gwynedd and Whitpain townships and North Wales Borough. Leonard replaces Robert Sobeck in the seat.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of my friends and family. I am so honored to be a member of the magisterial district court and I can’t wait to get started,” Leonard addressed the crowd.
Leonard worked as a practicing attorney and has served on the North Penn School Board. She served as a board member of the North Montco Technical Career Center, as well as an appointed child advocate through the Montgomery County Child Advocate Program.
Marc A. Alfarano was sworn-in as the district judge for East and West Norriton townships. Alfarano, who was an East Norriton Township supervisor, will be taking over for departing District Court Judge Ester J. Casillo.
“I really still can’t believe I am standing here as a judge,” said a beaming Alfarano, who promised DelRicci he would “try to do my best every day.”
Fifteen current district judges who were re-elected during November’s election also took new oaths of office on Wednesday.
DelRicci concluded the swearing-in ceremony with a message to the judges.
“This is a wonderful occasion. But along with this wonderful occasion comes the responsibility to do great work. So please administer justice fairly every day,” DelRicci addressed the judges.