LAWRENCE COUNTY President judge to retire

Judge Dominick Motto will take over as president judge.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County's president judge, Ralph D. Pratt, has decided to retire.
"There is nothing magical about my retiring at this time. I never intended to run for retention in 2005. At this stage in my career, I believe it's time to retire. I'm healthy. I feel I want to devote most of my time to my personal life," he said.
Judge Pratt, 63, will step down from the bench in June. Judge Dominick Motto will take over as president judge.
Judge Pratt said he intends to seek certification as a senior judge, in order to hear cases in Lawrence and surrounding counties on an as-needed basis.
Background
He was first elected judge in 1985 when Lawrence County created a third judge's seat. He handled all of the family related cases beginning in 1992 and in 1995 administered all civil cases and trials.
He became the president judge in January 2000 overseeing the entire court system, including five district justices and the court-related agencies of parole and probation, domestic relations and the driving under the influence program.
Before 1986, Judge Pratt was elected to six consecutive terms to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 10th legislative district.
Judge Pratt said he's proud of some of the programs he instituted in his 41/2 years as president judge.
He recruited a professional court administrator to manage the courts and its caseload. He also updated the jury selection system by including a system that selects jurors from voter registration and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation lists.
The judge also established a central court system, which concentrates all criminal preliminary hearings in one location.
Plans to continue
Judge Motto said he intends to continue all of the programs instituted by Judge Pratt.
Judge Motto takes over as president judge because he has the most seniority on the bench. He is in his 10th year as a judge.
Judge Motto said he has enjoyed working with Judge Pratt as a practicing attorney and then as a fellow judge.
"He's been wonderful to work with since the time I've been on the bench. He has always helped me when he could," Judge Motto said.
Judge Motto said during his tenure as president judge he plans to look at ways to make the court system more efficient and expedite cases.
Judge Pratt would have been up for a retention vote in 2005. He could have served on the bench until the mandatory retirement age of 70.
A fourth judge will likely be appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell until the 2005 election when a permanent replacement will take the bench.
cioffi@vindy.com