Don Walko to resign from Common Pleas Court to pursue political advocacy

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donald Walko Jr. will step down from the bench next week — nearly 11 years after taking office.

Walko, 67, said he made the decision to leave the court in July, with plans to return to working and volunteering in the political arena.

A Democrat, Walko served from 1995 to 2009 as a state representative in Harrisburg, before winning a seat on the bench. Walko won a 10-year retention election last year.

The idea of leaving the court has been percolating for a while.

“I was thinking about it before I ran for retention — I’ve got to change course,” he said. “There’s a lot happening I feel I should start to get involved with.”

Walko, who served in the family division for eight years and now is in civil court, said there are many issues important to him, including the environment, social justice, labor and voting rights.

Among the groups he hopes to volunteer with after leaving the bench is VoteSafe — to ensure everyone has the ability to vote in the fall.

“I believe that our nation is at a crossroads,” said Walko, who has four adult children. “I just want to be able to participate actively in some way.”

He plans to help others campaign and would also like to advocate on issues. He does not plan, however, to seek another elected office.

As a judge, Walko, who lives in the North Hills, is unable to be actively involved in politics.

“I can’t have a yard sign,” he said. “On Sept. 5, I guarantee you there will be a yard sign in my yard.”

There is a lot at stake in November’s election, Walko said, both for the state and nation.

“If I can’t pass on to my kids a lot of wealth, I, at least, want there to be a good nation,” he said. “Every soldier helps.”

The governor could appoint someone to fill Walko’s position temporarily, which would likely be included on next year’s primary ballot. That opening will be the second on the court currently, including one left open after Judge Robert Colville moved from state court to the U.S. District Court in December.

Judge Michael Della Vecchia is expected to take over Walko’s docket handling conservatorship cases, according to Court Administrator Chris Connors.

Paula Reed Ward is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or via Twitter .