2 Westmoreland County judges up for retention on Tuesday

Westmoreland County voters on Tuesday will decided whether two Common Pleas Court judges get new, 10-year terms.

Judges Michele Bononi and Chris Scherer are up for retention through a simple “yes” or “no” vote. Both were elected to the bench in 2009.

Bononi, 59, of Unity, has spent her entire first term as a family court judge and serves as the administrative judge for the juvenile criminal court division. Scherer, 53, of Lower Burrell, is assigned to the civil court division, having previously presided in family court and, for a short time, oversaw criminal cases.

Bononi said she has no plans to leave family court.

“I love working with the kids,” Bononi said. “I think I’ve made a difference with these kids who have made a mistake.”

Scherer said he, too, wants to continue his work on the bench.

“I enjoy the job, and it is a rewarding experience. I enjoy applying the law to the facts of a case,” Scherer said.

Westmoreland Bar Association lawyers overwhelmingly support the retention of both Bononi and Scherer.

The organization polled it’s 439 participating members and 90% of those who responded said Bononi should be kept for a second term. Scherer received support from 95% of respondents.

“Member polls regarding the retention of local judges are an important part of our mission of community service and education,” said attorney Joyce Novotny-Prettiman, president of the local bar association. “Our goal in publicizing these results is to help voters be better informed when heading to the polls to vote for retention.”

Common Pleas Court judges in Westmoreland County this year made $183,100.