The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 8, 2009

UPDATE: Two new district judges to be sworn in Monday

Arthur, McEwen will take posts early

By Monica Pryts

MERCER COUNTY — Two out of three of Mercer County’s vacant district judge posts will be filled Monday when the men who all but won them in the May primary are sworn in.

Mercer County Common Pleas President Judge Francis J. Fornelli will swear in Brian Arthur and D. Neil McEwen at noon in courtroom one at the courthouse in Mercer.

Fornelli has said he will also swear in Dennis Songer as soon as he is nominated for the appointment by the governor and cleared by the state Senate.

The three men won district judge races on both sides of the ballot in the May primary and Gov. Ed Rendell nominated and the state Senate recently signed off on Arthur and McEwen. Arthur had taken a test to qualify for the judicial post before the primary and McEwen was considered qualified because he is a lawyer.

All three men still have to run for the posts in November.

Arthur will cover the Greenville district judge’s office, last held by William L. Fagley; McEwen will take over for Lawrence T. Silvis’ Pine Township office; and Songer will replace James E. McMahon, whose office covers Sharon and Sharpsville.

The former judges retired in 2008 and their seats have been filled temporarily by senior district judges.

Arthur has been chief of police in Hempfield Township for 12 years and has submitted his resignation to the supervisors. Today is his last day working as chief and supervisors said Tuesday Sgt. David Morgan will be acting chief.

Supervisors are accepting applications from within the police department to replace Arthur.

McEwen has been working as an assistant district attorney for Mercer County.

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