In front of a packed courtroom 1 at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday, new District Attorney Bernie Cantorna was sworn into office along with judges and other local officials who will officially begin their duties next week.
Cantorna was unchallenged in the general election after defeating two-term incumbent Stacy Parks Miller in May’s Democratic primary, with the challenger, a trial attorney for 27 years, winning 70 percent of the vote and the Republican nomination on write-ins.
He enters an office that has for the past few years been embattled by controversy, with accusations of professional misconduct against Parks Miller and a series of lawsuits involving the DA, defense attorneys and county officials.
“We have good staff, good staff coming on board. We will be ready to go next year,” Cantorna said. “Today is a great day. Family, friends, supporters, law enforcement, courthouse … we’re all looking forward to a change and working to restore the integrity of our court system.”
While he has made decisions about office staffing, he said he wouldn’t discuss publicly which assistant district attorneys may be staying on from Parks Miller’s tenure.
He also said he couldn’t comment on whether he has heard anything further from the Office of Attorney General about whether it would grant his request to take over the prosecution of former Beta Theta Pi members related to the death of Timothy Piazza or the new trial for Jalene McClure, cases for which he said he had conflicts of interest. The OAG’s office last said it was considering his request.
The DA’s office will have a full load of cases as he begins his tenure, including some high profile matters. Among them are four murder cases expected to go to trial in 2018. He said four pending murder cases at once is a first for Centre County.
“I knew when I ran for election we’d be walking into something like that,” Cantorna said. “It’s something we’ve never experienced in the county before and my hope is we never have to experience it again.
“We have a good staff and a good office. We have great law enforcement who investigated cases. It will be a full year, lots of work and we plan to get right to it.”
A grand jury is not in the immediate plans for Cantorna. Parks Miller convened the county’s first grand jury, which investigated cases for 18 months before expiring in the fall. Cantorna said he is not aware of any current cases that would require one.
His priority as he takes office is prosecutions, with particular emphasis on defendants that present a danger to the community.
“The number one job is to serve and protect our community, and that’s through the ethical and efficient prosecution of cases, particularly ones that pose a threat to public safety,” he said. “That will be my first priority.”
After being sworn in, Cantorna recognized the wide support he received during and after the election.
“We’ve had support throughout the entire county. We have support in the courthouse, and in law enforcement,” he said. “You don’t do this without the support of your wife and your family. There has been great community outreach and support and that’s why it’s going to work. I know all of our community is invested in a better year, a better office. Elections are about positive change and that’s what we’re going to make.”
And as he begins his work, Cantorna hopes the residents of Centre County will see “someone who is always looking to do the right thing and works really, really hard.”
Cantorna wasn’t alone in being sworn in on Friday. Centre County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Pamela Ruest took the oath of office for a second time after being elected for retention in November.
Brian Marshall puts on the robe after being sworn in as Centre County Court of Common Pleas Judge. Photo by Geoff Rushton/StateCollege.com
Joining the bench for the first time is Judge Brian Marshall. He will succeed Judge Thomas King Kistler, who announced earlier this year he would retire after 20 years as judge.
“It was a very powerful moment when I was being sworn in, almost overwhelming with emotion,” Marshall said. ‘You realize the gravity and the magnitude of the responsibility you’re being given and the importance of the job.
Marshall defeated Ron McGlaughlin in the general election. He has been a practicing attorney for the past 16 years, spending most of his career with the Centre County firm of Miller, Kistler & Campbell. His practice areas included civil and criminal law, with his recent focus being on family law.
“It was a lot of work to get here but I’m really, truly honored that the citizens of Centre County selected me to fill Judge Kistler’s shoes,” Marshall said. “I look forward to coming to work everyday and trying to help people make their lives better.”
Marshall said his specific experience as an attorney will help guide him in his new role, one which he’s considered the next logical step in his career for several years.
“I’ve always tried to approach the practice of law while advocating for my clients trying to be mindful of what justice is,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of family law and in family law there really are no winners and loser so to speak.
“I think I’ve always in my practice of law tried to help my clients find the right answer. I think that is a good mindset that will help me be a judge and help me find that balance in reaching just resolutions.”
Also sworn in on Friday was new Magisterial District Judge Casey McClain. He has spent the past 14 years as an assistant public defender for Centre County and defeated Dave White in the general election for a six-year term as district judge for District 49-02-01, which includes Patton Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township and parts of College Township (north and west).
Jury commissioners Jason Moser and Hope Miller, Bellefonte Mayor Thomas Wilson and members of Bellefonte Borough Council were administered the oath of office by Ruest on Friday as well.
New Magisterial District Judge Casey McClain takes the oath of office. Photo by Geoff Rushton/StateCollege.com.
