Magisterial District Judge Daniel Baranoski was sworn in as president of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty on June 19, with his two daughters Jessica and Julie.
The SCJAP is the professional association representing Magisterial District Judges, Senior Magisterial District Judges and Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges.
There are currently 515 Magisterial District Judges, 96 Senior Magisterial District Judges, 26 Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges and three Senior Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges.
The SCJAP was incorporated on May 17, 1976. It was formed initially from members of the District Justices (formerly Justices of the Peace), Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges, Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges, and Pittsburgh Municipal Court Judges. In 2004, Act 207 of the Pennsylvania State Legislature officially changed the name of District Justices to Magisterial District Judges to more closely associate these Judges to the positions they fill. Legislative changes in recent years have consolidated the Philadelphia Traffic Court and Pittsburgh Municipal Court Judges into other courts.
The purpose of the organization is to foster, promote and advance, without becoming involved in partisan politics of any kind, the study and application of the laws pertaining to, administered by and affecting Special Court Judges, the proper observance of judicial ethics and moral obligations by and among such offices and members, the dissemination of legal and other information for the better performance of the duties of such offices, and for social purposes as provided in the nonprofit corporation.
Baranoski has been a Magisterial District Judge for the last 13 years at District Court 07-1-07 in Penndel after retiring from being a police detective. His venue serves Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township and Penndel Borough. He has been an active member of the Bucks County District Judge Association, serving on many committees and offices, including two years as president. In addition, he has been active in the SCJAP, serving on various committees, including the Court Rules Committee for several years where he has been vice chair for the past four years. Baranoski has also had the opportunity to serve on the SCJAP Retention Committee and participate in developing and organizing the statewide survey of MDJs conducted in 2016. In 2018, he was appointed to chair the new Strategic Planning Committee. For the past four years, Baranoski has also served as an executive committee advisor under past SCJAP presidents Sue Mack, John Fishel, Mike Cabry and Mike Defino.
Baranoski has been married for over 23 years to his wife Kathleen. They have two daughters, Jessica and Julie. In addition to family responsibilities, Baranoski is also active in several local nonprofit organizations, including president of the Bucks County Community Foundation and former chair of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission.
He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University, and attended West Chester University and University of Phoenix for master of science degrees in public administration and organizational management.
Baranoski said he is humbled to have been elected by his colleagues from across the commonwealth and looks forward to continuing to serve the SCJAP and his profession in his new position.
