Faldowski waiting for state Senate confirmation as Washington County judge
Attorney Damon Faldowski is shown in his Washington office after being nominated to fill a vacancy on Washington County Court.
Attorney Damon Faldowski is shown in his Washington office after being nominated to fill a vacancy on Washington County Court.
Damon Faldowski said he expects to see a change of pace if he’s appointed to fill an empty spot as a Washington County judge.
“I would think it’s different,” he said. “Everything is brought to me as the judge, as opposed to collecting the facts and taking them to the judge.”
Faldowski, 65, of Washington, was among 22 nominees Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Monday to fill vacant county-, state- and city-level judicial slots. Following a confirmation vote by the state Senate, the longtime trial lawyer is expected to become the sixth judge serving in the county’s Court of Common Pleas.
Faldowski said he’s “trying to give back” in seeking the post.
If his nomination is successful, he’ll occupy a seat that’s been empty since former President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca retired early last year after being relieved of her administrative duties by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts late in 2014 amid clashes with colleagues. Had she stayed in office, her 10-year term would have ended in 2021.
The state constitution requires a 10-month vacancy before voters can pick a new judge. Washington County fell short of that period last year by two days. President Judge Katherine B. Emery said Faldowski’s term will end in December 2017, following the next state judicial election.
Faldowski said he doesn’t plan to seek election for a full term.
Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, said she supports the Democrat Faldowski’s nomination.
“I don’t believe it’ll be any issue confirming him in the Senate,” Bartolotta said.
Jenn Kocher, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans, said the Senate is waiting for paperwork from the nominees. There is currently no schedule set for a vote on the judicial nominees.
“Under the law, we have 25 legislative days to act on the nominations, but hope we can bring it to the full Senate for consideration well before that deadline,” she said.
Jeffrey Sheridan, a spokesman for Wolf’s office, said the governor chose Faldowski “after working with the Senate to reach an agreement.”
Most of Faldowski’s career has been in civil litigation.
“I don’t do any criminal practice,” he said. “I don’t do any domestic relations.”
He handles product liability, workers compensation and personal injury cases.
He’s also been a mediator retained by parties to help resolve civil cases.
He’s also been a court-appointed mediator and a judge in “mini-jury trials,” a procedure in Washington County courts aimed at helping resolve civil actions.
Faldowski entered private practice in 1977 and worked a brief stint as an assistant Washington County district attorney.
In 1978, he and his brother-in-law, Denny Phillips, merged their practices to form Phillips & Faldowski.
He’ll have to withdraw from the business to take the post, which carries a salary of $176,572 this year.
Emery described Faldowski as “hard-working” and a “good lawyer.”
“He’s been before me,” she said. “I’ve had cases with him, more in the last 10 years since I’ve been doing more civil (cases),” she said
Emery said she’s been told by the AOPC two senior judges – William Nalitz and John C. Reed – appointed to help shoulder the county judges’ caseloads will continue working.
She said Washington County’s criminal docket has more cases than any other fourth-class county in the state, she said.
On the civil side, she expects work to pick up next year as cases arising from the countywide property tax reassessment make their way into the courts.
“We have the work for him – that’s for sure,” she said.
Staff writer David Singer contributed.