3 hope to replace retiring Butler district judge

The retirement of Butler District Judge Peter Shaffer, whose district encompasses the city of Butler, creates the only contested race for district judge in the county.

Three candidates — a sheriff's constable, an assistant district attorney and a longtime Butler lawyer — are running for the post in the May 19 primary.

Assistant district attorney B. T. Fullerton and lawyer Patrick Casey are registered Republicans. Robert Geagan, a state police constable, is a registered Democrat. Each candidate, however, cross-filed and is running on the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Instead of focusing on specific issues or making campaign promises, the candidates talk of their experience and what they would bring to the job.

Fullerton has been an assistant district attorney in Butler County for 19 years. He says being a judge would be an extension of a long public service career.

“I have always been involved in the community. I believe I could have a greater impact on the community as a judge than as a prosecutor,” he said.

Fullerton has been a member of several advocacy organizations, including the Victim Outreach Intervention Center and the Butler County Alliance for Children. He's a board member of the Butler County Historical Society and the Butler City Bicycle Commission, and has coached Butler youth baseball, football and soccer teams for nearly a decade.

Fullerton would like to expand the use of drug court and veterans' court, which he calls “problem-solving courts.”

“They have intensive programs and supervision. It is an alternative to just warehousing people,” Fullerton said.

Casey has worked as a lawyer in Butler for three decades.

“I do have a lot of experience in criminal and civil law,” Casey said.

Casey is an adjunct professor of legal affairs in the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He is active in civic organizations and is a board member of the Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Center, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Butler.

“There are very few lawyers in this district who live in the city of Butler. If elected, I will fairly administer the law,” he said.

Geagan, the only non-attorney candidate, has worked as a state constable for 16 years.

“I feel the time has come to expand upon that. I have worked in each of the Butler County district judge offices and at numerous others throughout Pennsylvania,” Geagan said.

His work involves issuing arrest warrants and orders of execution along with handling civil cases, landlord-tenant disputes, vehicle code offenses, underage drinking and fish and game violations.

“I have worked with the district judges and citizens to resolve these situations without financial hardship or additional problems,” he said.

Geagan has not received training from the Minor Judiciary Education Board — a state requirement for district judges who are not lawyers.

Geagan said he will enroll in a class in June if he wins the primary.

Rick Wills is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7944 or rwills@tribweb.com.