Former Penn Hills mayor to assume magistrate role after passing test on 2nd try

Former Penn Hills mayor Anthony DeLuca Jr. passed a certification test after the second try, allowing him to serve as an elected district magistrate.

DeLuca, 47, won the district magistrate election in November but failed a judicial certification test in December, which prevented him from starting his six-year term on the bench in January. DeLuca said he took the test again on Feb. 4 — and this time he passed, according to Amy Kelchner, spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts.

DeLuca did not return calls seeking comment Thursday.

Senior judges — who are retired judges working part time — were paid $242 a day to fill in for DeLuca, whose district hears cases for Penn Hills, Wilkins and Verona.

Newly elected magistrates who are not members of the Pennsylvania Bar are required to take a monthlong certification course and pass the test before they are allowed to serve. DeLuca said he was three points shy of passing an essay about search-and-seizure laws.

DeLuca, a Democrat, served as mayor of Penn Hills for 11 years.

He is the son of former Penn Hills mayor and longtime state Rep. Anthony DeLuca Sr., D-Penn Hills.

DeLuca did not collect his annual salary of $88,290 while waiting to serve and will not receive back pay.

The former magistrate, Leonard HRomyak, retired in January.

Local magistrates preside over landlord-tenant matters, violations of municipal ordinances, small civil claims and summary offenses as well as preliminary hearings and arraignments tied to more serious offenses.

Kelsey Shea is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. She can be reached at 412-320-7845 or kshea@tribweb.com.