LANSDALE – After more than three decades serving his community as a police officer and detective, retired Hatfield Township Police Corporal Patrick M. Hanrahan says he’d like to continue to serve the community as a district court judge.
“I have dedicated my life to public service and as a district judge I would continue to serve the community. As district judge, I will bring my experiences, knowledge, an open mind and a level of calmness to the position,” Hanrahan, 55, said recently as he announced his intention to seek a nomination, during the May 18 primary election, for district court judge in Montgomery County’s Magisterial District Court 38-1-28, which includes Towamencin Township, part of Hatfield Township and the boroughs of Hatfield and Lansdale.
“My careers have allowed me to encounter people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds, which has given me a vast perspective of our community and those that surround us,” added Hanrahan, of Hatfield. “With my judgment, life experiences, communication skills and integrity, I feel that I would be a great fit for the position, especially making hard decisions.”
District court judges are elected to six-year terms and preside over criminal preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings, summary criminal offenses, traffic offenses, municipal code violations, landlord/tenant disputes, and civil claims where damages do not exceed $12,000.
The district judge post that Hanrahan is seeking is currently held by District Court Judge Edward J. Levine, who is seeking re-election.
“I have been fortunate to have been able to live in the same community for 55 years, one where I raised my own family and throughout those years I learned what the community expects and needs from their elected officials,” said Hanrahan, a Lansdale Catholic High School graduate who obtained an associate’s degree in applied science from Montgomery County Community College in 1986 and Act 120 certification from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 1987.
“Spending three decades in different courtrooms with many different personalities, I have learned a lot about the justice system. I feel that I can best serve the community as district judge as I continue my lifetime of service,” Hanrahan added.
Hanrahan worked for the Hatfield Township Police Department from 1987 to 2018, serving as a patrol officer, detective and a corporal, according to his resume. During his 31-year career with the department, Hanrahan served as a K-9 officer, a bicycle patrol officer, hostage and crisis negotiator with SWAT, and coordinated criminal and special investigations and processed crime scenes.
As a police officer, Hanrahan said he’s attended and participated in numerous courtroom proceedings at various judiciary levels, including in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties and in federal court in Philadelphia.
“Many of those experiences occurred at district court levels throughout the region. These appearances included witness preparation, evidence procedures and dialogue with attorneys and courtroom staff,” said Hanrahan, maintaining his career in law enforcement leaves him well-prepared to be a district court judge.
“Throughout my career as police officer, I met a lot of people and handled a variety of incidents. As a crisis and hostage negotiator I have listened to and have engaged in conversation with individuals who were in crisis. Many of those were attempting to cause harm to themselves and or others. As a first responder I rendered lifesaving first aid numerous times,” Hanrahan added.
Since 2018, Hanrahan has been a protective services instructor at the North Montco Technical Center, instructing high school students seeking careers in law enforcement, security, emergency medical services and related fields.
Additionally, Hanrahan said, he is currently enrolled in the Pennsylvania Minor Judiciary Education Board for certification for magisterial district judges.
“To serve the community correctly you have to be part of it. It may be as simple as being a coach to now being an educator,” Hanrahan said. “Living my entire life in the same community and being able to adjust to the changing environments is a highlight. I have kept pace with the needs of the community and it has given me a positive outlook as I again hope to engage in community-oriented service as a magisterial district judge.”
Candidates for district court judge are elected in odd-numbered years by voters in the municipalities that constitute their magisterial district.
Under state law, candidates seeking nominations for district court judge can file nominating petitions to appear on the ballots of both the Democratic and Republican parties because they are considered to be non-political positions. The top Republican and the top Democratic vote-getters will move on to November’s general election ballot.
Hanrahan and Levine have each cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
If one of the candidates who cross-filed manages to garner enough votes to be the top vote-getter for both parties on May 18, then that person would win the post during the primary election.
