Washington County has a new President Judge. The Honorable Valerie Costanzo was officially sworn-in Monday morning to replace the Judge Gary Gilman who has retired. A lifelong resident of Washington County, Costanzo is a graduate of Canon McMillan High School, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She began her public service career as a prosecutor in the Washington County District Attorney’s office. In 1998, she was appointed Magisterial District Judge by then-Governor Tom Ridge. She was then elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. For the majority of her 11 years on the bench, Judge Costanzo has managed a full criminal docket, presiding over numerous jury trials involving serious felony offenses such as homicide, rape, strangulation, and drug delivery resulting in death. She is currently scheduled to preside over a capital murder case in September. Reflecting on her new leadership role, Judge Costanzo said: “As I look forward to stepping into the role of President Judge, I am truly honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Washington County. I plan to lead our court with a strong focus on fairness, transparency, and efficiency, and to work closely with my fellow judges, county commissioners, and other elected officials. Together, we can ensure our justice system works effectively and earns the trust of everyone in our community.”