Letter to the editor: Retain Smail as county judge

Since winning election to Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court in 2015, Judge Harry F. Smail has amassed an impressive record of achievement. As a constitutionalist, he has decided more than 1,000 cases involving local governments, businesses and families. He has demonstrated consistent respect for the rule of law, an understanding of our community’s needs and a balanced, originalist judicial philosophy.

Some cases gained notoriety, including the 2024 forced resignation of the county’s register of wills due to poor performance. That involved the court hiring a conservator and a temporary manager to handle the enormous backlog of filings that had accumulated.

Prior to his appointment to the court, Smail operated a successful law practice and provided advice and counsel to a large group of community organizations. An important measure of an attorney lies in his willingness to support his community — not for gain, but because it’s the right thing to do. Smail spent long hours providing consultation to numerous organizations on a pro- bono basis — because it was the right thing to do. As a member of one of those organizations, I sought his advice on a number of subjects and always found him to provide sound judgment based on solid legal principals.

Judges with this breadth of experience and steady hand are rare. Retaining Smail means keeping a fair, experienced jurist who knows Westmoreland County and is committed to applying the law as written — not as he wishes it to be. For these reasons, I strongly support Smail’s retention and encourage my fellow citizens to do the same.

Vincent J. Esposito

Murrysville