Changes In Magisterial Districts Come January

The state Supreme Court has approved the realignment of the Washington County magisterial districts, effective in January.  The biggest changes will be in and around Washington where a number of municipalities will be served by new magistrate judges.  North Franklin Township, which had been in the Washington courtroom of Judge Kelly Stewart, will be in the courtroom of Judge Mike Manfredi.  Manfredi will also hear cases coming out of Chartiers Township as well.  That township’s cases had been in the magisterial district of Judge James Saieva–Saieva will now also hear cases from North Strabane, which had been heard by Manfredi.  Canton Township cases, which had been in Saieva’s district, will be heard by Judge John Bruner.  A larger realignment will take place in 2028 or before, if Judge Curtis Thompson retires.  The Supreme Court’s order eliminates that Bentleyville district by 2028 and reassigns the cases to Judges Eric Porter in Charleroi and Joshua Kanalis in Centerville.  The court realignment happens every ten years, based on population and caseload data.