Former district court judge seeks new Pa. House seat
Gregory Scott resigns post with eye on newly created 54th House District
NORRISTOWN » Hoping to be a strong voice for a broader constituency, a Norristown district court judge has resigned his post to seek a state representative seat in a new Pennsylvania House District proposed for Montgomery County.
Gregory Scott, 34, resigned as district court judge in Montgomery County’s Magisterial District Court 38-2-09, which encompasses parts of Norristown Borough, effective on Feb. 8 to focus his attention on campaigning for state representative in what would be the newly created 54th House District under new maps proposed by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
That brand new district would be comprised of the boroughs of Norristown and Conshohocken and Plymouth Township, with a population estimated at 63,471.
Under judicial rules, Scott couldn’t seek another elected office while sitting as a judge and so he made the decision to step down.
Re-elected last November to a second, six-year term as district judge, Scott said the decision to step away from that post “took a tremendous leap of faith.”
“I’m a person of faith. I fundamentally believe that God called me to be a district judge and now has called me to do this. I fundamentally believe that this is the next step for me to further the work that I’ve done in and out of the courtroom to help our greater community,” Scott said during an interview on Monday.
Scott hand delivered his resignation to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office and notified state and local court officials of his decision on Feb. 9.
Wolf must appoint someone to fill the district judge post until there is an election in November 2023.
John E. Savoth, county deputy court administrator, explained that in light of Scott’s resignation, cases before Magisterial District Court 38-2-09 will be handled by a senior district court judge, of which there are three.
“That will continue as long as it takes for the governor to appoint an individual to the position,” Savoth explained.
District court judges preside over criminal preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings, summary criminal offenses, traffic offenses, municipal code violations and landlord/tenant disputes.
Scott said following his resignation he discussed his interest in the new House seat with local Democratic committee people. On Tuesday, Scott launched a YouTube message announcing his intention to seek a nomination for the seat.
“As a Norristown native, volunteer firefighter and EMT and a former magisterial district judge, I want to continue serving my community as a state representative to ensure that we are getting our fair share of funding and resources to better the lives of working families in Pennsylvania’s 54th District,” said Scott, adding he will continue to prioritize criminal justice reform and be a voice for those suffering from substance abuse, mental health and housing insecurity issues.
“I promise to never stop fighting for the people of Norristown, Plymouth and Conshohocken because I want to give back to the community that raised me,” Scott added.
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to finalize the maps for the state’s 203 House seats and 50 Senate seats in the oncein-a-decade redistricting process.
However, the new maps are facing challenges in court and the state Supreme Court said all appeals and legal briefs regarding challenges are due by March 7. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission will have until March 11 to respond.
Scott is well aware of the risk that the final plan might not create the new district for Montgomery County.
“There is a risk of that. But I fundamentally believe this is what I’m supposed to be doing. I fundamentally believe that all things will work out. I believe that it will,” Scott said.
Scott said he is proud of his accomplishments as a district court judge, including addressing pretrial services, bail reform and housing insecurity issues, during his six-year stint.
“Everything I wanted to do I accomplished. But more importantly, this gives me an opportunity to really help people in a broader way, in a way I didn’t have as a district judge,” Scott said about seeking higher office.
Scott was re-elected to a six year term as district court judge during last November’s election.
During that campaign, Scott, born and raised in Norristown, said he’s long had an interest in giving back to the community in which he grew up and that he’s been active in his community since he was 11 years old. At a young age, Scott was appointed Norristown’s first Junior Borough Councilman in October 2003.
Scott is a volunteer firefighter in the borough, attached to the Fairmount Engine Company and he’s also served the community as an instructor of students at Eisenhower Middle School through a civics and law program sponsored by Montgomery Bar Association.
Scott was part of the first graduating class of Renaissance Academy Charter School in June 2005. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business communications in 2009 from Chestnut Hill College, and a master’s degree in psychology in 2013 from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, according to his resume.
From November 2014 to December 2015, Scott was deputy chief of staff and outreach director for former Congressman Chaka Fattah and from June 2011 to October 2014, Scott was a special assistant to the president and CEO of Universal Companies, a nonprofit organization. Scott also worked as a congressional aide for former Congressman Joe Sestak from February 2008 to January 2011.
Scott was first elected district court judge in November 2015 and at 28 became the youngest sitting judge in the state and he was the first African American magisterial judge in Montgomery County’s history.