Veteran sheriff's department officer from Youngwood seeks Hempfield district judge post

A veteran Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department officer, currently assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force, will run for an open district judge’s seat in Hempfield.

Irvin Shipley, 44, of Youngwood, said he will cross-file and run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries May 18 for the seat formerly held by District Judge Anthony Bompiani, 41, who retired Dec. 31.

“As a lifelong resident of Westmoreland County, it would be an honor to serve the people in my community as magistrate,” Shipley said.

Shipley is a veteran law enforcement officer who worked his way up the ranks in the sheriff’s department as a deputy and then a sergeant. He headed up the office’s fugitive and criminal division.

In 2020, Shipley was assigned by Sheriff James Albert to the federal marshals’ Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force. He said his experience having already been involved in hundreds of civil and criminal court proceedings uniquely qualifies him for the position.

“My career in law enforcement has provided me with the experience to understand the court system and how it functions. It has also allowed me to become familiar with understanding and interpreting statutes and case law, both of which are critical to making fair and impartial decisions,” Shipley said.

He grew up in Scottdale and is a graduate of Southmoreland High School. He answered what he describes as a “calling” and began his career with the sheriff’s office. Shipley said he “will be ready to serve on day one,” if elected.

Shipley and his wife, Jennifer Maruca, have one son, Caleb.

Bompiani retired in December after serving five years of a six-year term. The court office, which oversees cases from Youngwood, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and parts of Hempfield, is being staffed by Senior District Judge James Falcon, who previously held the post.

One other candidate has announced he intends to seek the post. R. Douglas Weimer, 50, a four-term Hempfield supervisor and Norwin School teacher, said he also will cross-file for the primary.